Unless you need to use a catheter, your knowledge in this area is unlikely to be meaningful. We know it can sound scary, difficult and embarrassing. But when you learn the techniques, it will be part of your normal daily activities.
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the basic concepts and terms. If you want to know more, we can guide you.
What is a probe?
A Doyen Probes & Directors 14 cm probe is a thin tube usually made of flexible plastic material which can be inserted into the body. Probes are medical devices and are prescribed by doctors.
When is this necessary?
A urinary catheter is used to drain the bladder when it cannot be emptied normally. This process called “probing” may be necessary after surgery or during hospitalization.
It is also used daily by many people suffering from dysfunctional bladder due to another disease: spinal cord injury, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke or incontinence in particular.
The different types of urinary catheters.
There are different types of urinary catheters.
Indwelling probe
An indwelling catheter is a catheter that stays in the body for an extended period of time. There are two types: indwelling urinary catheters, inserted into the bladder through the urethra, and suprapubic catheters, inserted through the stomach directly into the bladder. Indwelling catheters are fitted by healthcare professionals and stay in place as long as needed. For long-term use, they are often changed every month or every other month.
Indwelling catheter in a health care setting promo image
Intermittent Catheter Probes
An intermittent catheter is inserted into the urethra when needed to empty the bladder, and is removed when emptying is complete. Users learn to probe themselves. It is a simple technique that can be accomplished by most people.
Even children as young as seven or eight learn to sound themselves, and with help, people with reduced dexterity can do it too.
Probing is done about as often as you would normally go to the bathroom, about 4 to 6 times a day.
Intermittent Catheter Promo Image
Non-hydrophilic vs hydrophilic probes
There are two broad categories of probes for intermittent probing: non-hydrophilic probes, which have no coating, and hydrophilic probes which have a coating that creates a slippery surface to make insertion and removal easy.
Lo Fric Sense Product Which probe to use?
Intermittent catheterization (SI) is the preferred method of emptying the bladder when it is not possible to urinate properly. This method is safe in the short, medium and long term because it reduces the usual risks of urinary tract infection (UTI), urethral strictures, complications with bladder stones and deterioration of the upper urinary tract.
Intermittent catheterization is closest to natural urination and provides control and freedom to the user. For short-term users, intermittent catheterization helps to recover faster and return to normal urination (emptying the bladder) after an operation.
Among the different types of probes for intermittent catheterization, the results show that single-use hydrophilic probes can best reduce the risk of complications.
Want to learn more and hear from other users tell their stories? Let us help you. We have over 30 years of research and development experience, and we can rely on the testimonials of our users, whose stories and feedback can help.
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