Rehabmart offers many different types of catheters at discount prices. Visit our catheter page to view the different products we have to offer!

 

Go with the Flow with These Catheters


What is a catheter?  When I was young I thought the word meant a small group of Catholics.  When I became a little older I thought it was a type of band-aid.  While I babysat little kids when I became an adult, I told them that Catheter was one of Santa's favorite reindeer.  In all reality, being a male as I am, now when I think of a catheter, I just sort of cringe a little.

A catheter is a device that is not often thought of, something that is not wanted to be thought about, a device that is never wanted to be used but when it is needed; it can relieve much pain and discomfort and even save a life.

In plan language, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel.  The first known catheter was created by the ancient Syrians from reeds.  A "Katheter" referred to an instrument that was inserted, such as a plug.  The ancient Greeks also used a hollow metal tube by inserting it through the urethra into the bladder so to be able to empty it came to be known as 'katheter', which means "to sit" or "oh man, that hurts like crazy".

Much has changed since the reed and metal tube days of ancient cultures.  In modern medicine, a catheter is a tube inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel.  Catheters can be a thin, flexible soft tube or a larger, solid, or hard tube.

Catheters are used in draining urine from the urinary bladder as in urinary catheterization; as the Syrians or Greeks knew.  Catheters are also used in the drainage of fluid collections, for example, from an abdominal abscess.  Another use of a catheter is the administration of intravenous fluids, medication or parenteral nutrition with a peripheral venous catheter.  Catheters are also used in angioplasty, angiography, balloon septostomy, balloon sinuplasty, cardiac electrophysiology testing, and a number of other medical procedures. 

If you are in search of catheters, and really, who isn't, than look no further because Rehabmart has many different type of catheters and catheter accessories.  The following selection of catheters is only a small sampling of more than a hundred catheters offered by Rehabmart.

The Cysto-Care Folysil Silicone-Coated Latex Foley Catheter has a silicone coating that smoothes the soft, flexible latex catheter to ease insertion. 
           
From library.rehabmart.com
 
The silicone coating also retards encrustation which allows longer indwelling periods and minimizes tissue reaction.
 
The LoFric Standard Catheters have a unique surface layer that binds with water. This creates a slippery surface that helps the catheter glide, virtually frictionless, along the urethra and remains slippery during the entire bladder emptying. 
                          
From library.rehabmart.com
This also allows the catheter to slide in and out of the urethra without feeling rough or chafing. LoFric's unique surface layer has been shown to reduce urethral friction by 90-95%, compared to regular catheters with gel.
 
Another LoFric product is the LoFric Hydro-Kit Catheter (a Hydrophilic catheter with integrated urine collection bag, 1000cc and water sachet) which is a small, flexible, and discreet catheter kit that you can easily take with you.
                                  
From library.rehabmart.com

It has its own water so you don't need to worry about the availability or the quality of the water. It also has an insertion guide which gives you a firm grip without touching the catheter. Moreover, you don't even need a toilet. The collection bag can be used anywhere. Your discretion is the only limit.  So, whether you want to go to work, go out in the countryside, to the gymnasium, for a long drive in your car, out to a restaurant with friends or just stay home, you have the freedom of discretion, ease and comfort.
 
Lastly, we have the Self-Cath Closed System Kit which is a silicone unisex catheter system that provides a method for safe, simple catheterization designed to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. 
               
From library.rehabmart.com
 
It includes the 100% latex-free Coloplast Self-Cath 16 French catheter and this ready-to-use catheter system has hydrophilic micro bead lubricant reducing friction and risk of urinary tract infections, an introducer tip to reduce urinary tract infections, and a protective sleeve that provides for contact free usage.

I have to tell you that researching and writing about catheters has been one of my least favorite subjects to write about but, that being said, I realize that if I am ever in the position to need an external or internal catheter, I will be, well, not happy to use one but I am sure I will be relieved and grateful.  On the bright side, at least we are not using reeds or metal tubes anymore. 

To view more catheters, flow on over to the Catheters page.


Bill Stock
Library Editor for Rehabmart
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO