Wicking catheter

We recently started using a "wicking catheter" for women at the hospital where i'm a critical care nurse. It's supposed to cut down on UTI's associated with insertion or Foley catheters.

Here's the basic description: the device is phallic shaped and designed to fit between the labia. The wicking material typically stays moist and provides continuous suction to 'wick away' urine. Here's a link demonstrating the device:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq7WgbSF5-M

My wife used a PureWick during a 3 day post op hospital stay. It worked very well. For some reason, when she transferred to rehab, they went back to a foley although they did have the PureWick apparatus in each room.

Gotta wonder what marketing genius came up with this. My shop vac would do the job a lot better and cost

a hell of a lot less.

I've never seen one, but it must be extremely absorbent so it can not leak or overflow onto the patient or bed during a periodically rapid stream of urine. If it avoids urethral pain and trauma because of no insertion, and decreases UTIs from indwelling catheters, I'm all for it. Sounds like something we've needed for a long time, especially for elderly and debilitated patients.

Eric

Not so much extremely absorbent as extremely porous, as any urine that comes out is wicked through the device into a vacuum collection jar. Yeah, I'm guessing it works, but I'd be surprised if it both worked well and was cost effective.

@docinny45. It worked well for us when properly placed. A couple of nurses had problems with it. Others were very successful with it Placement was important.

I have heard of this, but never seen it used. I was told it was somewhat of a banana shaped device?

It fits like a banana between you legs. It is connected to a pump that first wicks away urine and then pumps it out to container

It’s purpose is to eliminate the UTI associated with wearing catheters. It’s porous and absorptive. It does Not enter the vagina or urethral opening

Another video https://www.crbard.com/medical/PureWickVideo

live demo with the founder Dr. Camile peeing into the device https://youtu.be/9ipQ3C23NLU

a little searching on the product claims 2 million sold.

It's referred to as a 'female external catheter' doing same job as a male external catheter in getting rid of diaper.

another youtube video has a 'review' male RN likes it; says held in place better by heavier women.

So, medfet girls, any interest in adding this to your play toy chest?

Just saw a Purewick commercial on TV. Advertised for home use! They work, wife had one in the hospital for 2-3 days.

Pure wick is just like Peristeen ungodly expensive because they can get away with it , I know people who wash dry and reuse the disposable/consumables because of cost and insurance limits .

I have to be Intermittent catheterized to fully drain my bladder when my diaper is changed . It ain’t anything fancy it’s like a big sterile soda straw 150 disposable per month is like $1900 per month . We only half joke slap the word mobility on anything adds 10 K to price . Same deal with body waste somebodies getting rich off your suffering .

@SAP

If you're paying $1900 per month for 150 straight catheters, you're getting ripped off. They should cost under $200.

The PureWick is an invention and almost certainly has a patent The inventor is entitled to his/her reward for the life of the patent. Also, getting FDA appoval can cost $1M o more The investors deserve their share. Better expensive than not at all.