The bladder holds urine until it can be expelled from the body when you urinate. Once the kidneys create urine, it travels through tubes called ureters up to the bladder. A bladder catheter, often called a urinary catheter, is a tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine from the body instead of urinating normally. A bag attached to the catheter tube collects the urine.
A catheter may be needed for a variety of reasons. In people who have trouble urinating, either temporarily or long-term, a bladder catheter may be needed. Catheters are also inserted when urine volume needs to be measured or collected and tested for diagnostic purposes. Catheters are also often used during surgery to control the flow of urine.
Urinary catheters can be used for a very short time, during procedures such as surgery, or while recovering from an injury or illness. Long-term urinary catheters may also be needed for people with problems such as spinal cord injuries. These types of catheters are called long-term indwelling catheters.
The procedure to place a bladder catheter is called catheterization. Urine leaves the bladder and flows through the urethra to leave the body. Before catheterization, the urethra is cleansed and a sterile bladder catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. A small balloon is attached to the end of the catheter to hold it in place. A small amount of sterile water will be inserted into the port to inflate the balloon once it is in the bladder.
Inserting a bladder catheter is usually a quick procedure. Although it is usually not painful, a patient may feel some discomfort. How long the catheter stays in the bladder depends on the initial reason it was placed and the patient's condition. Catheter removal involves deflating the balloon and slowly pulling the tube out of the bladder through the urethra.
Complications during or shortly after bladder catheter placement are rare, but can occur. Bleeding or trauma to the urethra may occur, especially if the balloon is inflated before it is completely passed through the urethra. Catheters can also become blocked, obstructing the flow of urine from the body.
Other complications or risks associated with catheter use include a bladder infection, which can travel to the kidneys. Skin irritation and breakdown around the catheter site can also occur. Complications from a bladder catheter are more likely to occur with long-term use.