Abstract
People with urinary incontinence and/or urinary retention [1] often use urinary catheters (soft tubes inserted into the bladder to drain urine to a collection bag). In the UK, an average of 1 in 1000 individuals use a long-term catheter (LTC). A recent study of 11 European countries showed that 3.8% of those aged ≥65 yr receiving home care in the UK routinely use LTCs [2].
LTC use is associated with several complications, including LTC blockage [3], [4]. Catheter blockages may affect approximately half of all people living with an LTC [5], causing them significant pain, anxiety, incontinence, and reliance on health care resources, such as out-of-hours nursing visits, visits to general practitioners, and/or hospital admissions. These complications also impact patients’ quality of life [6].
Liquid washout (saline or acidic) solutions for catheter flushing are widely used to manage LTC encrustations and blockages [7], [8]. Despite this widespread use, evidence on the benefits and potential harms associated with either specific washout liquids or a no-washout policy to prevent blockages and other LTC-related adverse events has not been established [7], [8], [9].
LTC use is associated with several complications, including LTC blockage [3], [4]. Catheter blockages may affect approximately half of all people living with an LTC [5], causing them significant pain, anxiety, incontinence, and reliance on health care resources, such as out-of-hours nursing visits, visits to general practitioners, and/or hospital admissions. These complications also impact patients’ quality of life [6].
Liquid washout (saline or acidic) solutions for catheter flushing are widely used to manage LTC encrustations and blockages [7], [8]. Despite this widespread use, evidence on the benefits and potential harms associated with either specific washout liquids or a no-washout policy to prevent blockages and other LTC-related adverse events has not been established [7], [8], [9].
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 235-238 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | European Urology Focus |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 16 Mar 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2022 |