Transvaginal closure of the bladder neck and placement of a suprapubic catheter for destroyed urethra after long-term indwelling catheterization

We report on 6 women with continuous urinary incontinence as a late complication of an indwelling urethral catheter for neurogenic bladder. Pressure necrosis by the balloon resulted in progressive destruction of the entire urethra, with subsequent incontinence despite the catheter. Surgical attempts at bladder neck closure to correct the incontinence generally have been unsuccessful. Instead of supravesical urinary diversion, we performed transvaginal closure of the bladder neck and percutaneous placement of a permanent suprapubic tube cystostomy. All 6 patients remained dry after closure and none has shown upper urinary tract deterioration at followup for as long as 5 years.     

Missed signs of autonomic dysreflexia in a tetraplegic patient after incorrect placement of urethral Foley catheter: a case report

Background

Autonomic dysreflexia is poorly recognised outside of spinal cord injury centres, and may result in adverse outcomes including mortality from delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a spinal cord injury patient, who developed autonomic dysreflexia following incorrect placement of urethral Foley catheter. Health professionals failed to recognise signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia as well as its significance in this tetraplegic patient.

Case presentation

A tetraplegic patient started sweating profusely following insertion of a Foley catheter per urethra. The catheter was draining urine; there was no bypassing, no bleeding per urethra, and no haematuria. Patient’s wife, who had been looking after her tetraplegic husband for more than forty years, told the health professionals that the catheter might have been placed incorrectly but her concerns were ignored. Ultrasound scan of urinary tract revealed no urinary calculi, no hydronephrosis. The balloon of Foley catheter was not seen in urinary bladder but this finding was not recognised by radiologist and spinal cord physician. Patient continued to sweat profusely; therefore, CT of pelvis was performed, but there was a delay of ten days. CT revealed the balloon of Foley catheter in the over-stretched prostate-membranous urethra; the tip of catheter was not located within the urinary bladder but was lying distal to bladder neck. Flexible cystoscopy was performed and Foley catheter was inserted into the bladder over a guide wire. The intensity of sweating decreased; noxious stimuli arising from traumatised urethra might take a long while to settle.

Conclusion

Inserting a catheter in a tetraplegic patient should be carried out by a senior health professional, who is familiar with spasm of bladder neck which occurs frequently in tetraplegic patients. Facilities for urgent CT scan should be available to check the position of Foley catheter in spinal cord injury patients when a patient manifests signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia following insertion of a urethral catheter. When an isolated symptom such as flushing or sweating is noticed in a tetraplegic patient, doctors should seek out other signs/symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia.

     

Long-term usefulness and safety of the contemporary balloon catheter

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate usefulness and safety of an indwelling contemporary balloon catheter, we compared complication rates among five methods of urinary tract management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: History of febrile episode, bladder stones, pyuria and the miscellaneous urinary tract problems of 114 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The rates of complications were compared among five types of urinary tract management as clean intermittent catheterization dry (not incontinent) (CIC-dry: n = 33), clean intermittent catheterization with incontinence (CIC-wet: n = 16), clean intermittent catheterization with a contemporary balloon catheter indwelling at night (Contemporary catheter: n = 20), a suprapubic cystostomy catheter indwelling (Cystostomy: n = 22) and permanent urethral balloon catheter indwelling (Urethral catheter: n = 24). The contemporary balloon catheter used consisted of a reusable balloon catheter and a reservoir to inflate the balloon. The patients in the Contemporary catheter group self-inserted the catheter every night before sleeping, and then removed it in the next morning. After use, the catheter was washed with tap water, and stored in a special purpose case filled with disinfectant. RESULTS: The mean follow up period was 41 months. The incidence of febrile episode in CIC-wet was 3.36 times/100 months, Urethral catheter was 2.96, Cystostomy was 1.26, Contemporary catheter was 0.57, and CIC-dry was 0.42. The incidence of febrile episode in CIC-wet and Urethral catheter were significantly higher than in CIC-dry (p<0.05). The incidence of bladder stone in Urethral catheter was 1.11 times/100 months, Cystostomy was 1.05, Contemporary catheter was 0.96, CIC-wet was 0.61, and CIC-dry was 0.21. The Urethral catheter group had significantly higher incidence of bladder stone than CIC-dry (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The indwelling contemporary balloon catheter is recommended for long-term use in CIC-wet group.     

Usefulness of nocturnal urethral indwelling catheter for treating bladder dysfunction with nocturnal polyuria: case report of 3 women

Clean intermittent catheterization is a well-known procedure of urinary drainage for patients who are unable to empty the bladder sufficiently. However, some patients with bladder dysfunction and nocturnal polyuria fail to obtain the benefits of intermittent catheterization and have annoying symptoms of nocturnal incontinence and low-compliance bladder, which threaten both their quality of life and renal function. We report the usefulness of nocturnal urethral indwelling catheterization using a specially designed catheter to treat patients (three women) with lower urinary tract dysfunction and nocturnal polyuria. Case 1: A 45-year-old woman with mental retardation suffered from difficulty of micturition and residual urine. A nocturnal urethral indwelling catheter freed her from difficulty with micturition and residual urine. Case 2: A 28-year-old woman with spina bifida and neuropathic bladder dysfunction suffered from urinary incontinence and recurrent pyelonephritis. The recurrent pyelonephritis was prevented and bladder compliance was improved with use of the nocturnal urethral indwelling catheter. Case 3: A 66-year-old woman with cervical myelopathy and multiple episodes of cerebral infarction suffered from nocturnal urinary incontinence. She underwent clean intermittent catheterization by her husband. Use of the nocturnal urethral indwelling catheter solved the problem of her nocturnal incontinence and relieved her husband of her nocturnal care. Nocturnal urethral indwelling catheterization is useful for treatment of nocturnal incontinence and recovery of bladder compliance in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction and nocturnal polyuria.     

Electrical Stimulation of the Urethra Evokes Bladder Contractions in a Woman With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Objective: Electrical stimulation of pudendal urethral afferents generates coordinated micturition in animals and bladder contractions in men after spinal cord injury (SCI), but there is no evidence of an analogous excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in women. The objective of this study was to determine whether electrical stimulation of the urethra could evoke bladder contractions in a woman with SCI.

Case Report: A 38-year-old woman with a C6 ASIA A SCI who managed her bladder with clean intermittent catheterization and oxybutynin demonstrated neurogenic detrusor overactivity on urodynamics. Oxybutynin was discontinued 2 days prior to urodynamic testing with a custom 12F balloon catheter mounted with ring-shaped electrodes located in the bladder neck, mid urethra, and distal urethra. The inflated balloon was placed against the bladder neck to stabilize the catheter electrodes in place along the urethra. However, the balloon limited emptying during contractions. Urodynamics were performed at a filling rate of 25 mL/minute until a distention-evoked bladder contraction was observed. The urethra was stimulated over a range of bladder volumes and stimulus parameters to determine whether electrical stimulation could evoke a bladder contraction.

Findings: Electrical stimulation via urethral electrodes evoked bladder contractions that were dependent on bladder volume (>70% capacity) and the intensity of stimulation.

Conclusions: This is the first report of an excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in a woman with SCI. Future studies will determine whether this reflex can produce bladder emptying.     

Urethral catheterization facilitates preradiation fiducial marker placement in postprostatectomy patients

Surgical absence of the prostate can make placement of fiducial markers difficult, because anatomic landmarks are distorted and there is a paucity of substantial tissue to hold fast the markers. We describe a method for improving the accuracy of fiducial marker placement for the purpose of salvage or adjuvant external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy. To assist with identification of the urethrovesical junction and to facilitate placement of the markers, a Foley catheter was placed and the balloon was inflated. Gentle traction on the catheter seated the balloon at the bladder neck to echographically define the anatomy of the urethrovesical junction. Next, a rectal ultrasound probe was inserted into the rectum, allowing visualization of the region of the urethrovesical junction. Fiducial markers were then placed bilaterally in the detrusor muscle at the bladder neck or in the periurethral tissue using the applicator needle. The treating radiation oncologist verified that marker placement was suitable for assisting with radiation therapy in all cases. Preradiation pelvic imaging verified that markers were not in the bladder or urethral lumen, and there were no patient complaints of voiding out the markers with urination.     

Assessing the effectiveness of different urinary catheters in emptying the bladder: an application of transvaginal ultrasound

The effectiveness of different types of urinary catheters in completely draining the bladder has not been tested. Transvaginal ultrasound, which is able to measure bladder volumes in women from 2 to 175 ml, provides a means of measuring any fluid volume remaining in the bladder following catheter drainage. Using transvaginal ultrasound, the post-catheterisation bladder volumes were measured in 26 female patients; 14 underwent urethral catheterisation using either a 14F short plastic female catheter or a Foley catheter of the same size (balloon not inflated); 12 had an indwelling 12F suprapublic catheter following bladder neck surgery. The mean post-catheterisation bladder volumes after using the short plastic female and Foley catheters were less than 1 ml and 77 ml respectively. A short plastic catheter should be used in women to collect the residual urine volume by urethral catheterisation. A Foley catheter is relatively ineffective in this task. A 12F suprapubic catheter was found to drain the bladder relatively well. The mean post-catheterisation bladder volume was 35 ml. Prior to removing a suprapubic catheter post-operatively, it is recommended that the residual urine volume (measured using the suprapubic catheter) be checked by measuring the post-catheterisation bladder volume (using either a short plastic catheter or transvaginal ultrasound).     

Electrical Stimulation of the Urethra Evokes Bladder Contractions in a Woman With Spinal Cord Injury

Objective:

Electrical stimulation of pudendal urethral afferents generates coordinated micturition in animals and bladder contractions in men after spinal cord injury (SCI), but there is no evidence of an analogous excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in women. The objective of this study was to determine whether electrical stimulation of the urethra could evoke bladder contractions in a woman with SCI.

Case Report:

A 38-year-old woman with a C6 ASIA A SCI who managed her bladder with clean intermittent catheterization and oxybutynin demonstrated neurogenic detrusor overactivity on urodynamics. Oxybutynin was discontinued 2 days prior to urodynamic testing with a custom 12F balloon catheter mounted with ring-shaped electrodes located in the bladder neck, mid urethra, and distal urethra. The inflated balloon was placed against the bladder neck to stabilize the catheter electrodes in place along the urethra. However, the balloon limited emptying during contractions. Urodynamics were performed at a filling rate of 25 mL/minute until a distention-evoked bladder contraction was observed. The urethra was stimulated over a range of bladder volumes and stimulus parameters to determine whether electrical stimulation could evoke a bladder contraction.

Findings:

Electrical stimulation via urethral electrodes evoked bladder contractions that were dependent on bladder volume (>70% capacity) and the intensity of stimulation.

Conclusions:

This is the first report of an excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in a woman with SCI. Future studies will determine whether this reflex can produce bladder emptying.     

Urethral false passage as a complication of intermittent catheterization

Intermittent catheterization is used commonly to treat bladder dysfunction. We treated 10 patients who were experiencing difficulty with intermittent catheterization, 9 of whom had a false urethral passage. Of these patients 6 had previously undergone a bladder neck or urethral operation. Endoscopy was helpful to diagnose the condition. Treatment consisted of stenting in 3 patients, transurethral incision and stenting in 3, and fulguration and stenting in 4. An indwelling catheter was left in place for 2 to 3 weeks, after which intermittent catheterization was resumed with a softer catheter. Two patients again experienced severe difficulty with catheterization and they underwent a continent urinary diversion. When intermittent catheterization becomes difficult or impossible, the presence of a urethral false passage should be suspected as a possible cause.     

Urinary Catheterization: a Paradigm Shift in Difficult Urinary Catheterization

Background

The urinary catheter is an ancient device for urinary drainage in patients. Placement of a urethral catheter is a common medical procedure that may have led to morbidity and mortality. Urethral catheterization is commonly performed by a nurse. Difficult catheter placement generates urology consultation. Difficult catheterization with a vision-guided urinary catheter may provide expedited and successful catheter placement by nursing personnel.

Methods

A PubMed.gov and Ovid Medline search for articles on history of urinary catheter, difficult urinary catheterization, iatrogenic urethral injury, iatrogenic urethral injury and CAUTI, management of iatrogenic urethral injury, and techniques for urinary catheter placement was performed.

Results

The history of urinary catheters is reviewed. Technical advances in the last century are discussed. Indications for catheter placement are included. Outcomes and cost of complications of urinary catheters are discussed relative to present practice quality standards. Review of difficult urinary catheterization management algorithms developed with urological catheter improvements during the last decade is analyzed. Educational and technological advances to improve outcomes of urinary catheter use are addressed.

Conclusions

Provider attention to issues of urinary catheterization is enhanced by education and additional skills for catheterization. Physician and nurse providers can use current technology with preparation to improve the catheterization care of patients.

     

Catheterization: Possible complications and their prevention and treatment

Abstract:   Intermittent catheterization (IC) is a more preferable method for bladder drainage than indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheterization. Several complications with IC have been described, however, including urinary tract infection, genital infection, urethral bleeding, urethritis, urethral stricture, and bladder stones. To prevent these complications, patients should be well instructed on the technique and the risks of IC. Indwelling catheterization should be used only exceptionally, under close control and the catheter should be changed with adequate frequency.     

Success of the artificial urinary sphincter after failed surgery for incontinence

We implanted the artificial urinary sphincter in 15 incontinent patients for whom multiple urethral and bladder neck operations, including sphincter placement, had been unsuccessful. The 5 male and 10 female patients ranged from 3 to 26 years old (mean age 11 years). The etiology of incontinence was neurogenic bladder in 10 patients, epispadias in 2, exstrophy in 1, ectopic ureters in 1 and traumatic urethral disruption in 1. Of the 15 patients 13 required augmentation enterocystoplasty and clean intermittent catheterization. The initial anti-incontinence procedures were Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder neck reconstruction in 10 patients, artificial urinary sphincter placement in 4 and bladder neck suspension in 1. Causes of failure of the primary treatment were erosion (artificial urinary sphincter), and incontinence and/or difficult catheterization (Young-Dees-Leadbetter). Followup from the last salvage operation averaged 21 months (range 6 to 37 months). A total of 58 operations was performed. Among the 4 patients in whom the artificial urinary sphincter eroded the bladder neck repeated attempts to place the cuff at the same site were unsuccessful and erosion occurred in all 4 within 1 year. Sphincter placement was more successful among the 11 patients who initially underwent Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder neck reconstruction or bladder neck suspension; acceptable continence was attained in 8 patients (73%). We conclude that placement of the sphincter cuff around a previously eroded bladder neck probably will result in erosion. Sphincter implantation should be attempted in patients in whom bladder neck reconstruction has failed. Persistence in the treatment of these patients is essential because multiple operations often are necessary to achieve continence.     

Evaluation of povidone-iodine as vesical irrigant for treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections

This is a preliminary study evaluating diluted solutions of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) as urinary bladder irrigants for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infection. Diluted povidone-iodine solutions were used as indwelling catheter irrigants and as instillations into the urinary bladder following intermittent catheterization. The diluted PVP-I solutions had no efficacy in either the treatment or prevention of urinary tract infections when used as indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter irrigants. There was a suggestion of a slight decrease in the incidence of urinary tract infections during the use of PVP-I in the intermittent catheterization group in this uncontrolled study, but the percentage of positive urine cultures was greater than desired. The absence of any unfavorable data has led us to conclude that the diluted PVP-I caused no undesirable side effects in any of the patients treated with this agent. PVP-I bladder irrigation warrants further investigation in special cases such as lower urinary tract fungal infections.     

Editorial

ABSTRACT

Twenty-four patients, with various combinations of non-healing decubitus ulcers, urethral fistulae, incontinence, and penile skin breakdown were candidates for proximal urinary diversion, having failed intermittent, external, and indwelling catheterization combined with pharmacologic therapy. Seventeen patients underwent bladder neck closure, including seven with multiple sclerosis and ten with spinal cord injury, and because they were unable or unwilling to do catheterization, had their urine diverted by suprapubic catheter. Seven patients, including four with spinal cord injury, underwent bladder neck closure and continent augmentation with formation of a catheterizable cutaneous stoma on the anterior abdominal wall, using right colon and right colon/ileum configurations. When ureteral reflux and obstruction are absent, the patient's bladder was used which spared the added risk of ureteral implantation and possible ureteral stricture while increasing total bladder capacity. In a select group of patients with intractable incontinence, perineal and penile skin breakdown, or urethral fistulae, bladder neck closure and urinary diversion by suprapubic catheter or continent augmentation has proven to be a reliable and effective alternative to an ileal conduit.     

The risk of intra-urethral Foley catheter balloon inflation in spinal cord-injured patients: Lessons learned from a retrospective case series

Background

Inflating the balloon of Foley catheter in urethra is a complication of urethral catheterisation. We report five patients in whom this complication occurred because of unskilled catheterisation. Due to lack of awareness, the problem was not recognised promptly and patients came to harm.

Case series

1. 1.
   A tetraplegic patient developed pain in lower abdomen and became unwell after transurethral catheterisation. CT pelvis revealed full bladder with balloon of Foley catheter in dilated urethra.
    
2. 2.
   Routine ultrasound examination in an asymptomatic tetraplegic patient with urethral catheter drainage, revealed Foley balloon in the urethra. He was advised to get catheterisations done by senior health professionals.
    
3. 3.
   A paraplegic patient developed bleeding and bypassing after transurethral catheterisation. X-ray revealed Foley balloon in urethra; urethral catheter was changed ensuring its correct placement in urinary bladder. Subsequently, balloon of Foley catheter was inflated in urethra several times by community nurses, which resulted in erosion of bulbous urethra and urinary fistula. Suprapubic cystostomy was performed.
    
4. 4.
   A tetraplegic patient developed sweating and increased spasms following urethral catheterisations. CT of abdomen revealed distended bladder with the balloon of Foley catheter located in urethra. Flexible cystoscopy and transurethral catheterisation over a guide-wire were performed. Patient noticed decrease in sweating and spasms.
    
5. 5.
   A paraplegic patient developed lower abdominal pain and nausea following catheterisation. CT abdomen revealed bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter and Foley balloon located in urethra. Urehral catheterisation was performed over a guide-wire after cystoscopy. Subsequently suprapubic cystostomy was done.
    

Conclusion

Spinal cord injury patients are at increased risk for intra-urethral Foley catheter balloon inflation because of lack of sensation in urethra, urethral sphincter spasm, and false passage due to previous urethral trauma. Education and training of doctors and nurses in proper technique of catheterisation in spinal cord injury patients is vital to prevent intra-urethral inflation of Foley catheter balloon. If a spinal cord injury patient develops bypassing or symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia following catheterisation, incorrect placement of urethral catheter should be suspected.

     

The Effect of Urinary Tract Reconstruction On Neurologically Impaired Women Previously Treated With An Indwelling Uretheral Catheter

Purpose

We investigated the changes in sexuality and quality of life that evolve after lower urinary tract reconstruction in neurologically impaired women previously treated with an indwelling urethral catheter.

Materials and Methods

A total of 18 neurologically impaired women treated with an indwelling urethral catheter underwent bladder reconstruction. Pubovaginal sling urethral compression was required to restore perineal dryness in 13 patients and was the only operation required in conjunction with intermittent catheterization in 3. Eight patients underwent ileocystostomy, that is creation of a "bladder chimney," and 4 underwent augmentation cystoplasty with creation of a continent catheterizable stoma. In 3 patients ileocystoplasty alone with intermittent urethral catheterization was performed. All patients were followed 6 to 40 months (mean 18) after reconstructive surgery using a 9-part questionnaire to score numerically the effect of surgical reconstruction on sexuality and quality of life issues.

Results

On a scale of 0 (worst) to 5 (best) mean scores for self-esteem improved from 1 preoperatively to 4 postoperatively, self-image from 1 to 4, sexual desire from 2 to 4 and ability to cope with disability from 1 to 4, respectively. In 4 of the 15 women who were sexually active preoperatively the frequency of sexual intercourse doubled from a mean of 3 to 6 times per month, respectively, and all 4 women reported improved sexual satisfaction. All 13 patients with pelvic pain and 5 with symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia noticed significant improvement if not complete resolution of the symptoms.

Conclusions

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction treated with an indwelling urethral catheter is detrimental to sexuality and quality of life in neurologically impaired women. Urinary tract reconstruction restores not only quality of life but also sexuality by improving self-image, self-esteem and the ability to cope. Indwelling catheterization as a method of long-term urinary treatment should be avoided in women.     

Combined stent and artificial urinary sphincter for management of severe recurrent bladder neck contracture and stress incontinence after prostatectomy: a long-term evaluation

PURPOSE: Concurrent incontinence and severe recurrent bladder neck contracture following radical prostatectomy are difficult to manage. Recurrent anastomotic strictures following repeat transurethral incisions and resections, and the need for frequent instrumentation are contraindications for artificial urinary sphincter placement. Usually treatment alternatives for these patients consist of some form of urinary diversion or chronic catheter drainage. We evaluated our results using a UroLume stent across the bladder neck contracture followed by placement of an artificial urinary sphincter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After failed multiple (mean incisions 4.4) attempts at conservative management of anastomotic stricture 9 men were treated with a UroLume urethral stent across the contracture followed by artificial urinary sphincter placement after appropriate epithelialization of the stent was confirmed. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a mean of 17.5 months. Mean pad use per day decreased from 6.5 to 0.7 before and after artificial urinary sphincter placement, respectively. Two patients reported mild persistent perineal discomfort and 1 had a recurrent contracture after stent placement, which was successfully managed with placement of a second overlapping stent. Overall, 89% of the patients were satisfied with the results. CONCLUSIONS: UroLume stent placement followed by artificial urinary sphincter can be a successful method for treating recurrent severe bladder neck contracture and incontinence. There is minimal morbidity with the procedures, and the combination offers a much more attractive treatment alternative compared to urinary diversion or chronic catheter drainage.     

Blind urethral catheterization in trauma patients suffering from lower urinary tract injuries

OBJECTIVES: The goals of our study were to review all cases of urethral and bladder trauma that presented to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center between January 1998 and August 2005 and determine (1) the clinical characteristics of patients with urethral and/or bladder injuries as well as the sensitivities of those clinical characteristics; (2) whether or not a blind attempt to insert a urethral catheter was performed; and (3) whether there is any evidence that a blind attempt to insert a urethral catheter worsened the initial urinary tract injury. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 46 patients with a mean age of 30 years, including 36 men (78.2%) and 10 women (21.8%). Bladder tears were found in 33 patients, 10 patients had urethral lacerations, and 3 patients had combined bladder and urethral lacerations. The most sensitive finding for urinary bladder or urethral injury was the presence of gross hematuria in the urethral catheter (100%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.89). Blinded insertion of a urethral catheter was attempted in 30 (90.9%, 95% CI 0.75-0.98) patients who suffered from urinary bladder injury, 6 (50%, 95% CI 0.26-0.87) patients who suffered from urethral injury and 1 (33%, 95% CI 0.0-0.9) patient who suffered from a combined urinary bladder and urethral injuries. We did not find evidence that a blind attempt to insert a urethral catheter worsened the initial urinary injury. CONCLUSION: Gross hematuria in the urethral catheter was the most sensitive sign for the presence of a urethral or urinary bladder injury in our study cohort, and often the only sign of such an injury. We found no evidence that a blind attempt to insert a urethral catheter in patients suffering from urethral and or urinary bladder injuries worsened the initial injury. Larger studies will be needed to determine the safety of blind urethral catheterization in patients that are suspected to suffer from a lower urological trauma. It is our opinion that the current guidelines should be revised to better reflect the current knowledge, technologies, and clinical practice.     

Preventable long-term complications of suprapubic cystostomy after spinal cord injury: Root cause analysis in a representative case report

Background

Although complications related to suprapubic cystostomies are well documented, there is scarcity of literature on safety issues involved in long-term care of suprapubic cystostomy in spinal cord injury patients.

Case Presentation

A 23-year-old female patient with tetraplegia underwent suprapubic cystostomy. During the next decade, this patient developed several catheter-related complications, as listed below: (1) Suprapubic catheter came out requiring reoperation. (2) The suprapubic catheter migrated to urethra through a patulous bladder neck, which led to leakage of urine per urethra. (3) Following change of catheter, the balloon of suprapubic catheter was found to be lying under the skin on two separate occasions. (4) Subsequently, this patient developed persistent, seropurulent discharge from suprapubic cystostomy site as well as from under-surface of pubis. (5) Repeated misplacement of catheter outside the bladder led to chronic leakage of urine along suprapubic tract, which in turn predisposed to inflammation and infection of suprapubic tract, abdominal wall fat, osteomyelitis of pubis, and abscess at the insertion of adductor longus muscle

Conclusion

Suprapubic catheter should be anchored securely to prevent migration of the tip of catheter into urethra and accidental dislodgment of catheter. While changing the suprapubic catheter, correct placement of Foley catheter inside the urinary bladder must be ensured. In case of difficulty, it is advisable to perform exchange of catheter over a guide wire. Ultrasound examination of urinary bladder is useful to check the position of the balloon of Foley catheter.     

Safer urethral catheters: how study of catheter balloon pressure and force can guide design

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The urethal catheter is a ubiquitous device that has not been modified or improved for safety in the last 20 years, although it can be associated with significant patient harm. This study utilizes force and pressure measurements of the urethral catheter in order to aid in future safety modifications.

OBJECTIVES

• ? To better define urethral catheter balloon pressures and extraction forces during traumatic placement and removal of urethral catheters.
• ? To help guide design for safer urethral catheters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

• ? Measurements of balloon pressure were made upon filling within the urethra vs the bladder.
• ? Extraction forces were measured upon removal of a catheter with a filled balloon from the bladder.
• ? Models for the bladder and urethra included an ex vivo model (funnel, ‘bladder’, attached to a 30 F tube, ‘urethra’) and fresh human male cadavers.
• ? The mean (sem ) balloon pressures and extraction forces were calculated.

RESULTS

• ? In the ex vivo model, the mean (sem ) pressures upon filling the balloon with 10 mL were on average three‐times higher within the ex vivo‘urethra’ (177 [6] kPa) vs ‘bladder’ (59 [2] kPa) across multiple catheter types.
• ? In the human cadaver, the mean balloon pressure was 1.9‐times higher within the urethra (139 [11] kPa) vs bladder (68 [4] kPa).
• ? Balloon pressure increased non‐linearly during intraurethral filling of both models, resulting in either balloon rupture (silicone catheters) or ‘ballooning’ of the neck of the balloon filling port (latex catheters).
• ? Removal of a filled balloon per the ex vivo model ‘urethra’ and cadaveric urethra, similarly required increasing force with greater balloon fill volumes (e.g. 9.34 [0.44] N for 5 mL vs 41.37 [8.01] N for 10 mL balloon volume).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Iatrogenic complications from improper urethral catheter use is common.
• ? Catheter balloon pressures and manual extraction forces associated with urethral injury are significantly greater than those found with normal use.
• ? The differences in pressure and force may be incorporated into a safer urethral catheter design, which may significantly reduce iatrogenic urethral injury associated with catheterization.