Intermittent catheterisation (IC) can be used as treatment for voiding problems due to disturbances or injuries to the nervous system, neurogenic and non-neurogenic bladder dysfunction, or intravesical obstruction with incomplete bladder emptying. It may also be considered for any patient with residual urine. This form of management is only undertaken after medical or specialist consultation.

Residual urine not only causes a reservoir for infection but could also reduce the vascular supply to the bladder tissue making it more susceptible to bacterial invasion.

Advantages of intermittent catheterisation:

• increases patient independence
• reduces risks associated with long-term indwelling catheters
• reduces risk of urethral trauma
• removes risk of encrustation
• reduces risk of reflux to the upper urinary tract
• greater freedom for expression of sexuality
• reduces infection rate when compared to long-term indwelling catheters

Before commencing a patient on intermittent catheterisation, patient symptom severity profile, renal function, risk assessment, psychological and physical ability to perform intermittent catheterisation and residual urine status must be considered. Do not initiate intermittent catheterisation based solely on the residual urine status.

The patient must also be willing to carry out this procedure several times a day, and it is very important that a full discussion takes place with a competent experienced specialist with the relevant knowledge and communication skills. The patient should be given written information before they learn techniques, and the patient should remain under regular review with specialist, until they are confident and established with a long-term management plan. GPs can refer to specialists if the patient experiences difficulties.

Patients performing intermittent catheterisation who suffer with recurrent UTIs should have their technique observed. However, patients may benefit from a more specialist catheter, which should be discussed with a specialist.

All catheters used for intermittent catheterisation have the generic name, Nelaton, and a new catheter is used each time.

• Prescriptions for intermittent catheterisation should use Nelaton catheters
• The number of times a patient self-catheterises in 24 hours varies according to the residual urine. It is not unusual for a patient to require catheterisation several times a day. Some patients only pass urine via IC
• Always consider intermittent catheterisation as an alternative to indwelling catheter

Intermittent catheters usually come in packs of 30.

Male and Female catheters

SpeediCath Compact (Coloplast Ltd)

• Male one size (30cm) CH 12 – 18 (28692) (£59.08 = pack of 30)
• Female sizes (7cm) (£50.08 = pack of 30)
  • CH 06 (28576), CH 08 (28578), CH 10 (28580), CH 12 (28582), CH 14 (28584)

HydroSil Go (Bard Ltd)

• Male sizes (40cm) (£54.76 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (73810G), CH 12 (73812G), CH 14 (73814G), CH 16 (73816G), CH 18 (73818G), CH 20 (73820G)
• Female sizes (7cm) (£50.68 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (71808), CH 10 (71810), CH 12 (71812), CH 14 (71814), CH 16 (71816), CH 18 (71818)

Actreen Hi-Lite (B.Braun Medical Ltd)

• Male sizes (41cm) (£50.74 = pack of 30)
  • CH 8 (238208E), CH 10 (238210E), CH 12 (238212E), CH 14 (238214E), CH 16 (238216E)
• Female sizes (20cm) (£50.74= pack of 30)
  • CH 6 (238306E), CH 8 (238308E), CH 10 (238310E), CH 12 (238312E), CH 14 (238314E), CH 16 (238316E)

LoFric Primo (Wellspect Healthcare)

• Male sizes non-PVC (40cm) (£49.62 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (4100825), CH 10 (4101025), CH 12 (4101225), CH 14 (4101425), CH 16 (4101625), CH 18 (4101825)
• Female sizes non-PVC (15cm) (£51.03 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (4140825), CH 10 (4141025), CH 12 (4141225), CH 14 (4141425)

Protective tip and shield

Sterile catheter with protective tip which may reduce the risk of bacteria insertion into the urinary tract.

VaPro Pocket Hydrophilic (Hollister)

• Male sizes (40cm) (£55.95 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (70104), CH 12 (70124), CH 14 (70144), CH 16 (70164)
• Female sizes (20cm) (£56.74 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (70102), CH 12 (70122), CH 14 (70142)

Male only catheters

SpeediCath Flex Pocket (Coloplast Ltd)

• Male sizes (33cm) (£58.11 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (28910), CH 12 (28912), CH 14 (28914)

LoFric Origo (Wellspect Healthcare)

• Male sizes (40cm) (£55.18 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (4431025), CH 12 (4431225), CH 14 (4431425), CH 16 (4431625), CH 18 (4431825)

Female only catheters

SpeediCath Compact Eve (Coloplast Ltd)

• Female sizes (9cm) (£55.12 = pack of 30)
  • CH 10 (28110), CH 12 (28112), CH 14 (28114)

Infyna Chic (Hollister Ltd)

• Female sizes (13cm) (£52.73 = pack of 30)
  • CH 8 (7008), CH 10 (7010), CH 12 (7012), CH 14 (7014)

LoFric Sense (Wellspect Healthcare)

• Female sizes (15cm) (£51.03 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (4160825), CH 10 (4161025), CH 12 (4161225), CH 14 (4161425)

All-in-one catheter system

Useful in wheelchair users and bedridden post-op patients

LoFric Hydro-Kit (Wellspect Healthcare)

• Male sizes non-PVC (40cm) (£60.28 = pack of 20)
  • CH 08 (42008253), CH 10 (42010253), CH 12 (42012253), CH 14 (42014253), CH 16 (42016253), CH 18 (42018253)
• Female sizes (20cm) (£62.15 = pack of 20)
  • CH 08 (42308253), CH 10 (42310253), CH 12 (42312253), CH 14 (42314253), CH 16 (42316253), CH 18 (42318253)

Notes

1. Includes a catheter with water and an integrated urine collection bag

Actreen Glys Set (B.Braun Medical Ltd)

• Male sizes (50cm) (£70.17 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (226208E), CH 10 (226210E), CH 12 (226212E), CH 14, (226214E), CH 16 (226216E), CH 18 (226218E)
• Female sizes (25cm) (£70.17 = pack of 30)
  • CH 06 (226306E), CH 08 (226308E), CH 10 (226310E), CH 12 (226312E), CH 14 (226314E), CH 16 (226316E)

Notes

1. The set includes a pre-lubricated catheter and a urine collecting bag

Female only all-in-one catheter system

Infyna Plus (Hollister Ltd)

• Female sizes (17cm) (£71.69 = pack of 30)
  • CH 8 (86081), CH 10 (86101), CH 12 (86121), CH 14 (86141)

Notes

1. The set includes a catheter and a urine collecting bag

Protective tip and shield all-in-one catheter system

Sterile catheter with protective tip which may reduce the risk of bacteria insertion into the urinary tract.

VaPro Plus Pocket (Hollister)

• Male sizes (40cm) (£98.36 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (71084), CH 10 (71104), CH 12 (71124), CH 14 (71144), CH 16 (71164)
• Female sizes (20cm) (£98.36 = pack of 30)
  • CH 08 (71082), CH 10 (71102), CH 12 (71122), CH 14 (71142)