Biomaterial Database

Bladder washouts in the management of long-term catheters. 2000

A Evans, and H Godfrey

Department of Urology, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Healthcare Trust.

It has been estimated that 40-50% of patients with long-term catheters can suffer with catheter blockage. This not only causes distress to the patient but also increases the demands on community nurses' time and resources. Infection with bacteria such as Proteus causes the urine to become alkaline. Crystalline deposits can then form inside the catheter lumen which causes blockage. Nurses often manage blocked catheters with the use of bladder 'washouts' or bladder instillations. However, the literature is confused over the terminology of 'bladder washouts', instillations and irrigation and a great deal of controversy surrounds the effectiveness of these procedures. Crisis management of catheters occurs when nurses wait for catheters to become blocked before changing them; this often occurs at inconvenient times and patients frequently have to wait several hours before help is available. To avoid crisis management, nurses should aim to assess individual patients' 'pattern of catheter life' and plan changes accordingly. This would improve patient care and allow nurses to utilize their time more effectively.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007322	Instillation, Drug	The administration of therapeutic agents drop by drop, as eye drops, ear drops, or nose drops. It is also administered into a body space or cavity through a catheter. It differs from THERAPEUTIC IRRIGATION in that the irrigate is removed within minutes, but the instillate is left in place.	Drug Instillation,Drug Instillations,Instillations, Drug
D007507	Therapeutic Irrigation	The washing of a body cavity or surface by flowing water or solution for therapy or diagnosis.	Douching,Lavage,Douchings,Irrigation, Therapeutic,Irrigations, Therapeutic,Lavages,Therapeutic Irrigations
D008134	Long-Term Care	Care over an extended period, usually for a chronic condition or disability, requiring periodic, intermittent, or continuous care.	Care, Long-Term,Long Term Care
D010347	Patient Care Planning	Usually a written medical and nursing care program designed for a particular patient.	Nursing Care Plans,Goals of Care,Plans, Nursing Care,Care Goal,Care Goals,Care Plan, Nursing,Care Planning, Patient,Care Plans, Nursing,Nursing Care Plan,Plan, Nursing Care,Planning, Patient Care
D004868	Equipment Failure	Failure of equipment to perform to standard. The failure may be due to defects or improper use.	Defects, Equipment,Device Failure,Failure, Equipment,Malfunction, Equipment,Medical Device Failure,Misuse, Equipment,Device Failure, Medical,Device Failures, Medical,Failure, Medical Device,Failures, Medical Device,Defect, Equipment,Device Failures,Equipment Defect,Equipment Defects,Equipment Failures,Equipment Malfunction,Equipment Malfunctions,Equipment Misuse,Equipment Misuses,Failure, Device,Failures, Device,Failures, Equipment,Malfunctions, Equipment,Misuses, Equipment
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014546	Urinary Catheterization	Passage of a CATHETER into the URINARY BLADDER or kidney.	Catheterization, Ureteral,Catheterization, Urethral,Catheterization, Urinary,Foley Catheterization,Ureteral Catheterization,Urethral Catheterization,Catheterization, Foley,Catheterizations, Ureteral,Catheterizations, Urethral,Catheterizations, Urinary,Ureteral Catheterizations,Urethral Catheterizations,Urinary Catheterizations
D017053	Infection Control	Programs of disease surveillance, generally within health care facilities, designed to investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infections and their causative microorganisms.	Control, Infection