Catheter

A flexible, hollow tube inserted into the body to facilitate the passage of fluids in or out of a specific area. Catheters come in various types and sizes depending on their intended use and the part of the body they are inserted into.

 

Foley Catheter

A common type of indwelling catheter that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine. It consists of a flexible tube with an inflatable balloon at one end to hold it in place within the bladder.

 

Central Venous Catheter (CVC)

A catheter placed into a large vein, typically in the neck, chest, or groin, to administer medications, fluids, or to draw blood for testing. CVCs are often used in critically ill patients who require frequent or continuous intravenous therapy.

 

Peripheral Intravenous Catheter (PIV)

A small, short catheter inserted into a peripheral vein, usually in the arm or hand, for the administration of medications, fluids, or blood products. PIVs are commonly used in hospitals and clinics for short-term treatments.

 

Hemodialysis Catheter

A type of catheter inserted into a large vein, usually in the neck or groin, for the purpose of hemodialysis, a medical procedure used to filter waste products from the blood in patients with kidney failure.

 

Swan-Ganz Catheter

A specialized catheter used in critical care settings to measure various parameters of cardiovascular function, such as cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, and central venous pressure. It is inserted into a large vein and advanced into the pulmonary artery.

 

Urinary Catheterization

The process of inserting a catheter into the bladder through the urethra or a surgical opening in the abdomen to drain urine from the body. Urinary catheterization may be performed for various reasons, including urinary retention, surgery, or monitoring urine output in critically ill patients.

 

Intermittent Catheterization

A technique used to empty the bladder by periodically inserting and removing a catheter through the urethra. Intermittent catheterization is commonly used by individuals with urinary retention or bladder dysfunction who are unable to empty their bladder effectively on their own.

 

Suprapubic Catheter

A catheter inserted into the bladder through a small incision in the abdomen, typically performed when long-term bladder drainage is necessary or when urethral catheterization is not feasible or contraindicated.

 

Urethral Catheterization

The insertion of a catheter through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine. Urethral catheterization is a common medical procedure performed in various clinical settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and emergency departments.