Procedural Skills for Medical Students

Bladder Catheterization

Objectives:

1. Learners should be able to list the indications and contraindications of bladder catheterization.

2. Learners should be able to demonstrate bladder catheterization on the female and male trainers using sterile technique.

Material to review prior to lab: Video on Female Urethral Catheterization and Male Urethral Catheterization (need access to New England Journal of Medicine, available to students through the University of Arizona Health Sciences Library)

Indications:1. Diagnostic indications: collection of uncontaminated urine specimen, monitoring of

urine output, and imaging of the urinary tract.2. Therapeutic indications: acute urinary retention, chronic obstruction that can cause

hydronephrosis, initiation of continuous bladder irrigation, intermittent decompression for neurogenic bladder, hygienic care of bedridden patients.

Contraindications:

1. Presence of traumatic injury to the lower urinary tract (e.g. urethral tear).2. Presence of urethral obstruction (e.g. severe prostatic hypertrophy).

Equipment: foley trainers, foley catheter & kit

Instructional Procedure & Endpoints:

1. Learners will be oriented to Foley trainers and other equipment in ASTEC. 2. Instruction will be given on male and female urinary catheterization using sterile

technique.3. Learners will practice catheterization once on each trainer.4. Using sterile technique, learners will demonstrate one successful catheterization to

ASTEC staff on either male or female model.

References:

James, R.E. & Fowler, G.C. (2011). Bladder catheterization (and urethral dilation). In J.L. Pfenninger, & G.C. Fowler (Eds.), Procedures for Primary Care, 3rd Ed (765-769). Philadelphia: Elsevier Mosby.

Ortega, R., Ng, L., Sekhar, P., & Song, M. (2008). Female urethral catheterization. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(e15). Retrieved from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMvcm0706671#figure=preview.gif

Thomsen, T.W. & Setnik, G.S. (2006). Male urethral catheterization. The New England Journal of Medicine, 354(e22). Retrieved from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMvcm054648#figure=preview.gif

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