Retention Catheter

RETENTION CATHETER WILLIAM T. KENNEDY, M.B. (ToR. ), L.l.VI.C.C., F .A.C.S., NEw YoRK, N. Y. (From the Clinic of Woman's Hospital)

ANY gynecologists would use a retention catheter following plastic operations, providing the catheter would satisfy certain rigid requirements, among them that: ( 1) The patient must be almost una ware of its presence ;

M

Fig. I.-Illustration of t he assembly of the catheter, holder , iodoform gauze, a nd connecting tube, before and after placement. C. = Catheter (vitallium). H . Holder (vitalHum . C.T. Connecting tube, r ubber. I.G. Iodoform gauze. V. = Vagina. u. = Urethra.

=

=

=

Fig. 2.~Illustration of a patient on the bed t o s how how the ca thet er sho uld be placed. C.T. = Connecting tube, rubber. P. :::: P in to keep the end of the connecting tube in the middle of the bed. This allows the patient free movement without t raction on the catheter. G. Glass connecting tube. B. :::: Bottle into which urine runs.

=

506

KENNEDY:

rtJ;;TENTION CATHETER

(2) the skin of the mons, the labiae, and the perineum and the skin or tho legs must remain clean; (3) there must be no traction in any direction on the labiae; (4) the patient must be able to have normal bed locomotion without disturbing the catheter; (5) the catheter must keep constantly clean for several days and not require any routine irrigation; (6) there must be no need to change or replace the catheter; (7) the catheter must absolutely abolish a~l need of catheterization, and (8) exasperating and discouraging complica~Ions after operation caused by frequent passing of an ordinary catheter are less apt to occur. The author presents such a catheter* made of vitallimn, the nonelectroactive nonirritating alloy which has been used in human tissue without any evidence of corrosion. The author has used this catheter for niore than three years and has never had one corrode or become stopped. Should evidence of cystitis, trigonitis, etc., be manifest, the tube may be separated at the glass-connecting tube and the bladder irrigated without removing the catheter. Bleeding should be stopped from vaginal incisions following extensive plastic~ vaginal operations, fistula operations, and operations for incontinence, If the holder is then inserted and loosely packed with iodoform gauze, gauze will remain uncontaminated for a week or more. The average length of time the author leaves the catheter in is seven to ten days. It can easily be removed and will retain the same glossy metallic surface. The incisions, which have been undisturbed during the time the catheter has been in place, will have quite firmly united and there will have been no trauma to urethra or bladder, even by the retention catheter. 930 PARK AvEN11F.

*This catheter and holder ean be obtainod from the Austenal Lahurawrle;:., ;o21 .&ist 39th St., New York.