What is a catheter and what is it used for? A urinary catheter is a thin, flexible, rubber or plastic tube. It drains urine (pee) from your urinary bladder when you can’t pee on your own.

Understanding the Context

They come in different sizes and shapes, so anyone can use them. In medicine, a catheter (/ ˈkæθətər / [1] KA-thə-tər) is a thin tube made from medical grade materials serving a broad range of functions. Catheters are medical devices that can be inserted in the body to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. A catheter is a thin, flexible tube that carries fluids into or out of your body.

Key Insights

It can put medicine or nutrients directly into one of your veins, or it can help pee flow out of your bladder. There are three main types of catheters: An indwelling catheter is a catheter that sits in the bladder. It may also be known as a Foley catheter. This type can be useful for short and long... A catheter is a medical device consisting of a long, thin tube which can be fitted with a variety of different tips to serve a range of functions.

Final Thoughts

Your Foley catheter is a thin, flexible tube placed through your urethra (the small tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body) and into your bladder. Your Foley catheter drains your urine (pee). It’s held inside your bladder by a balloon filled with water. About Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter: How To Clean and Care for It A urinary catheter is usually used when people have difficulty peeing (urinating) naturally. It can also be used to empty the bladder before or after surgery and to help perform certain tests.