Hydrophilic catheters

A urologist friend of mine introduced me to hydrophyllic catheters recently. The catheters are a strait catheter pre packaged in a drainage bag with a pouch of water. When you break the water pack, it wets the catheter and activates the coating to make the catheter slipperier than a politician on the campaign trail. There is also an introducer tip that bypasses the distal urethra to prevent infection. Moral of the story is that the catheter goes in very easily with NO discomfort whatsoever, drains the bladder into a sterile bag, and comes out without any trauma. There is not even the usual burning sensation at the next urination.

The brand on these is Rochester Hydrophilic Personal Intermittent Catheter Closed System.

Anybody else playing with these?

I've used this brand before and share all your observations plus one more....they are relatively expensive for a straight catheter at $3-4 each. But they are a good choice for a newbie to cath play or anyone that is prone to UTIs.

If the doc/patient wants to leave the cath in for a longer time than just for one voiding, the cath can be temporarily taped in place with surgical tapes cut into thin strips. Take 4 thin strips of tape each attached to the cath just outside of the urethra in a 'cross' pattern. The other end of the strips can be attached to the patient. This will keep the cath in place for a short time.

Besides Rochester, Ruesch also has hydrophillic single use caths w/o the drainage bag which are about $2/ea.

Yes have several hundred of them the type coated with a antibiotic. Had to intermittent catheterize myself after a back injury. Never got a infection while using this type. And they do go in very easy. And you are right no burning when you go next time. But the largest size is 16fr and they started to kink over at the prostate. So I moved up to a 22fr bard curved tip red rubber with a insertion kit. I also have a penile prosthesis inflatable type. I can just use a straight Catheter and blow myself up and it will hold the catheter in place. Or a few more pumps and it will squeeze it shut to stop the flow.

Hi, use this one Rochester Personal Hydrophilic male. I love that catheter. Very easy to use. I use very small size 14. Next time I will order bigger size.

Have to try

I never realized that we had so may members who use catheters; I am assuming that these are for medical conditions. I have to self-cath. 3 times a day for weak bladder muscles. I'm used to it by now and have learned that it is wise to "coax" the cath. through my bladder neck sphincter.

Are all hydrophilic catheters filled with antibiotics and disinfectant.

I would like details

Some of them are coated with an antibiotic and some are not. You have to look at the supplier. The Rochester Antibacterial Hydro personal catheter is antibiotic coated and hydrophilic. Once wet, it slips in very easily.

The disinfectant is a separate process. I like an iodine based product like povidone-iodine prep solution to cleanse the skin around the urethra.