What are the different types of catheters?

Indwelling catheters

An indwelling urethral catheter is inserted into the urethra and remains in the bladder permanently for an extended period and is generally changed by a healthcare professional every 10-12 weeks. Urethral catheters are held in place by a small, water-filled balloon near the end of the catheter, which is inflated after the catheter has been inserted. This prevents the catheter from falling out. This is deflated when it’s time for the catheter to be removed or changed – removing the catheter without deflating the balloon can lead to serious injuries and damage.

Indwelling catheters can either be urethral or suprapubic:

Urethral catheter 

As the name suggests, a urethral catheter is inserted into your bladder via your urethra. That’s the hollow tube that allows for urine to exit the body. There are many urethral catheters out there, however, most of them are made from natural or silicone rubber and they all come in various sizes. There’s no need for you to figure out which size you need, your healthcare professional will work this out for you. This is to reduce the risk of damage to your urethra. However, if you’re getting a catheter inserted after surgery or an infection, you might get a bigger size for a while. This is because there is likely going to be some debris that can block the catheter and prevent drainage.

You may hear this type of catheter being referred to as a foley catheter – named after Frederic Foley, who invented it back in 1929! 

These catheters can be attached to a catheter bag or valve. Vyne is proud to provide a wide choice of catheter drainage accessories, so you can find one which fits with your lifestyle. Browse our range.

Suprapubic catheter 

A suprapubic catheter enters the bladder through a small incision made in the abdomen, often under your belly button. The procedure can be carried out under general anaesthetic, epidural anaesthetic or local anaesthetic in a hospital. Every hospital has its individual process, so it’s best to speak with your healthcare professional about any specific questions you have. A suprapubic catheter is often used when the urethra is damaged or blocked, when someone is unable to use an intermittent. However, there are many reasons why a suprapubic catheter may be used:

• There’s no risk of damage to the urethra or bladder neck.
• There’s less risk of you developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).
• The catheter is less likely to be accidentally pulled or sat on.
• It’s much easier for you to keep the entry site of your catheter clean.
• There is no interference with any sexual activity.

What can you expect when you have an indwelling catheter?

Any urine that is drained by your catheter can be collected in an externally worn drainage bag. This can be a bag that’s strapped to your thigh/calf/belly or a larger overnight drainage bag that you can keep on a stand or hanger next to your bed or chair. If you opt for an overnight drainage bag you will need to make sure that your bag is always kept lower than your bladder. Why? Because you will risk urine flowing back into your bladder which can cause a UTI.

In some cases, a catheter valve is also an option which removes the need to wear an external bag. Your catheter valve is simply attached to the end of your catheter, causing your bladder to fill up. If your bladder is full and you want to drain the urine, you can just open your valve to empty your bladder. You should always speak to a healthcare professional before attempting to use a catheter valve as you will need to be assessed properly.

Intermittent catheter (ISC catheter) 

Unlike indwelling catheters, Intermittent catheters are inserted (by you, a healthcare professional or someone who has been taught to do it for you) when you need to empty your bladder, then removed straight afterwards. So, if you’re wanting to use an intermittent catheter your healthcare professional will teach you how to catheterise yourself. There are some reasons why intermittent catheterisation isn’t a good option for some people. For example, you may need good dexterity in your fingers to be able to insert the catheter yourself, and you also need to be able to remember to empty your bladder at regular intervals, however, if somebody else is inserting the catheter, you won’t need to worry about this. This type of catheterisation is often abbreviated to ISC, which stands for 'intermittent self-catheterisation'. 

The thought of inserting and removing a catheter yourself can feel daunting, but many people say it becomes easy with practice. You’ll be taught the correct procedure by a healthcare professional, who should be able to answer any questions you might have. Most of these catheters come pre-lubricated, making them more comfortable to insert and remove. 

Using an intermittent catheter comes with many benefits for your health and personal life:

• Your bladder is fully emptied which means that urine doesn’t build up.
• There’s less of a risk of urine flowing back into the kidneys because the bladder is emptied regularly.
• It helps your bladder to learn how to empty by itself again.
• It reduces the risks of indwelling catheters (like trauma to the urethra or encrustation).
• It gives you a feeling of independence.
• It doesn’t interfere with your movement or sex life.

If you’d like to find out more about intermittent self-catheterisation, follow our full guide here.

Urinary Sheaths

Urinary sheaths (can often be referred to as an external catheter, uridome or condom catheter) look very similar to condoms and have a tube on the end to allow for connection to a catheter bag for the collection of urine. The inside of most sheath products are coated with a skin-friendly adhesive, and this holds it in place when applied to the penis. Because they’re non-invasive (condom catheters don’t involve anything going inside the body), there’s less risk of infection. Urinary sheaths are a good way of collecting urine in men who have no urinary retention or urinary obstruction and can use their hands well enough to be able to use the sheath themselves, if you can’t do this yourself it is possible for someone else to. 

There are many benefits to urinary sheaths:

• You’re much less likely to develop catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) when wearing a sheath.
• Application and removal are super easy and can usually be done by you in the comfort of your own home.
• A urinary sheath doesn’t restrict movement anywhere near as much as an indwelling catheter.
• They can be a great option if you usually use incontinence pads.

If you’d like to find out more about urinary sheaths, follow our full guide here.

How will I know which type of catheter is best for me? 

Your healthcare professional will be able to advise on your options and provide advice on which type of catheter they think will be most suitable for you. If you already have a catheter and want to know more about one of the other types of catheters mentioned in this blog post, please don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare professional or one of our Vyne nurses for more information.

References 

1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-catheters/types

2. https://www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/sexual-relationships/