{{Short description|Medical technique}} {{more footnotes|date=May 2014}} '''Intermittent catheterization''' is a medical technique used in conditions where patients need either short-term catheter-based management of the [[urinary bladder]] or as a daily habit for life. Intermittent catheterization is considered the "gold standard" for medical bladder emptying. Intermittent catheterization can be done by the patient or a caregiver in a home environment.
==Advantages== People with neurogenic bladder disorders like [[spinal cord]] injury, [[spina bifida]] or [[multiple sclerosis]], and non-neurogenic bladder disorders like obstruction due to [[Benign prostatic hyperplasia|prostate enlargement]], [[urethral stricture]]s or post-operative urinary retention, need to be continuously catheterised to empty their urinary bladders. But such continuous catheterization can lead to problems like [[Urinary tract infection|urinary tract infections (UTI)]], [[urethral stricture]]s or [[male infertility]]. Intermittent catheterization at regular intervals avoids such negative effects of continuous long term catheterization, but maintaining a low bladder pressure throughout the day.
==Technique== It is unclear which catheter designs, techniques or strategies affect the incidence of UTI, which are preferable to users and which are most cost effective. Intermittent catheters come in a variety of designs and differ depending on the user's genitals, with a catheter for a [[penis]] being longer and a catheter for a [[vulva]] being shorter. The catheter is inserted into the urethra by the patient or a carer and can either be directed down a toilet or, if measurement of volume is required, into a measuring jug. A jug may also be used by wheelchair users, rather than struggling to get over a toilet.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Prieto|first1=J|last2=Murphy|first2=CL|last3=Moore|first3=KN|last4=Fader|first4=M|title=Intermittent catheterisation for long-term bladder management|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|date=Sep 10, 2014|volume=9|issue=9|article-number=CD006008|pmid=25208303|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub3|url=https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/379225/1/Intermittent%2520catheterisation%2520for%2520long-term%2520bladder%2520management%2520Accepted%2520Manuscript.pdf}} {{Retracted|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub4|pmid=28796279|intentional=yes}}</ref>{{Update inline|reason=Updated version https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34699062|date = December 2021}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
;General *Taylor-LeMone: Fundamentals of Nursing. 7th edition, page 1246 *http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v40/n9/full/3101312a.html *https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/continence/reasons-for-intermittent-catheterisation-12-10-2010/
[[Category:Catheters]]