types of urinary catheter

 Urinary Catheter

Urinary catheter is a flexible tube placed into the bladder through urethral opening to drain urine and collect urine from the bladder in drainage bag.

Types of Urinary Catheter

1. Intermittent catheter

2. Indwelling catheter

3. External catheter/ condom catheter; for male patients.

1. Intermittent Catheter

Intermittent catheter are temporarily inserted into the bladder and removed once the bladder is empty.

2.Indwelling  Catheter

Indwelling catheter remain in place in bladder for many days or weeks, and are held in position by an inflated balloon in the bladder such as Foley catheter.

Parts of Indwelling Catheter 

1. Balloon port

Used to fluid to inflate balloon.

2. Urine drainage port

Catheter connected to drainage tube.

3. Balloon; port of balloon inflation- deflation 

4. Bladder opening

Opening for urine

5. Drainage tube

6. Collection bag

Sizes of Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Average catheter size for adult is between 14FR to 18FR. 

For male; 14 to 18 fr

For female; 14 to 16fr

For children; 4 to 6 Fr in newborns, 6 to 8 Fr in infants.

Color Coding of Indwelling Catheter

Color Code  Size

Green;            6

Blue;.              8

Black;            10

White;.           12

Dark green;  14

Orange;         16

Red;               18

Yellow;          20 

Purple;          22

3. External Catheter/ Condom Catheter 

External catheter is only used for male patient.

Types of Indwelling Catheter 

1. 2 way urinary catheter

The two way foley has one channel to drain urine, and the other channel to inflate the balloon once the catheter is in the bladder so as to keep the foley in the bladder draining urine.

2. 3 way urinary catheter 

Foley catheter third channel used to irrigate the inside of the bladder. A sterile solution is flushed through the tubing to irrigate the bladder as to wash out blood and clots most commonly.