What is a coude catheter?
A coude catheter is a style of intermittent catheter that has a bent tip. The angled tip makes it easy to maneuver around restrictions without causing discomfort or damaging the urethra.
Who needs a coude catheter?
Coude catheters are great for people who find a straight tip catheter difficult or painful to insert. They are commonly used by people with urethral strictures, obstructions, false passages, or men with an enlarged prostate. These conditions reduce the size of the urethral opening that the catheter needs to pass through, making navigation more challenging. A coude tip provides the proper angle to slide past these blockages. Check with your healthcare professional to find out if these would work better for you.
Types of Coude Catheter Tips
Aside from the regular coude tip, there are two other angled coude styles known as an olive tip and tiemann tip. The olive tip coude catheter has a small bulb at the end that allows for even easier movement around obstructions. A tiemann style is longer and thinner than the other styles, making it even more flexible.
Lubricants
Catheter lubricants are designed to reduce friction while inserting a catheter, making the procedure more comfortable. Applying lube creates a slick surface, helping the catheter to slide into the body more easily. This helps reduce the amount of pressure you have to apply at the insertion point, which reduces the risk of damaging the urethra and also helps prevent urinary tract infections. You can purchase catheter lubricating jelly in a tube or in individual packets, depending on your preferences.
Hydrophilic
Hydrophilic intermittent catheters have a specially-designed lubricant coating on them that activates when combined with saline solution or sterile water. These catheters are either already covered with the saline solution or they have a water sachet inside the package that you break. The water and lubricant react with one another and make the catheter very slick for easy insertion. If you have trouble inserting a catheter and don't want to purchase extra medical supplies, a hydrophilic catheter is a great option.
Closed-System
If you have limited dexterity or mobility, using a closed-system catheter can make it easier to empty your bladder than using a traditional intermittent catheter. This pre-lubricated catheter is self-contained within a plastic drainage bag. Your urine will drain directly into the attached bag, eliminating the need for a toilet. This is especially helpful to wheelchair users. Because a closed system catheter remains sterile throughout the cathing process, it is also ideal for those who experience frequent UTI's.
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