Urethral Catheterisation

Subject summary

Like other stations this always involves a model but you must remember to talk as though it’s a person. This can be a male or female model, here we will discuss male catheterisation.

  1. Start by introducing yourself, explaining what you are going to do and obtain consent.

  2. Get your equipment ready. This is:

    • catheterisation pack
    • a 16G Foley catheter
    • a catheter bag
    • antiseptic solution
    • sterile gloves
    • lignocaine gel
    • a 10ml saline-filled syringe
    1. Urethral catheterisation kit
      Urethral catheterisation kit

  3. Position the patient on his back with legs slightly apart.

  4. Using an aseptic technique open the catheter pack and pour antiseptic solution into the receiver.

    1. Pour antiseptic solution into the receiver
      Pour antiseptic solution into the receiver

  5. Wash and dry your hands then put on the sterile gloves.

  6. Drape the patient and place a collecting vessel between the patients legs.

    1. Drape the patient and place a collecting vessel
      Drape the patient and place a collecting vessel

  7. Hold the penis with a sterile swab and clean the penis thoroughly. Remember to retract the foreskin and clean around the urethral meatus.

    1. Clean around the urethral meatus
      Clean around the urethral meatus

  8. Insert the lignocaine gel and hold the meatus closed with pressure from the swab. Indicate that the anaesthetic needs 5 minutes to work.

    1. Insert the lignocaine gel and hold the meatus closed
      Insert the lignocaine gel and hold the meatus closed

  9. Hold the penis vertically with one hand and with the other hold the catheter by its sleeve. Advance the catheter tip from its sleeve and insert into the urethra.

    1. Advance the catheter tip
      Advance the catheter tip

  10. Progressively insert the catheter ensuring that neither your hand nor the sleeve touch the penis until the end arm reaches the meatus.

    1. Progressively insert the catheter
      Progressively insert the catheter

  11. Inflate the balloon using 5ml of saline, ensuring that it does not cause any pain.

    1. Inflate the balloon
      Inflate the balloon

  12. Attach the catheter bag.

    1. Attach the catheter bag
      Attach the catheter bag

  13. Gently pull on the catheter until resistance is felt. This is when the balloon will be resting on the urethral opening of the bladder.

    1. Gently pull on the catheter until resistance is felt
      Gently pull on the catheter until resistance is felt

  14. Reposition the foreskin.

  15. Afterwards record the volume of urine collected in the catheter bag and ensure that the patient is comfortable.