Catheters
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A catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, injection of fluids, or access by surgical instruments.
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The process of inserting a catheter is known as catheterization. Catheter is a thin, flexible tube ("soft" catheter), however they may be larger, solid ("hard")catheter.
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A catheter kept inside the body, either temporarily or permanently, may be referred to as an indwelling catheter.
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A permanently inserted catheter may be referred to as a permcath .
Uses
Placement of a catheter into a particular part of the body may allow
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Draining urine from the urinary bladder as in urinary catheterization , e.g., the Foley catheter or even when the urethra is damaged as in suprapubic catheterisation .
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Drainage of urine from the kidney by percutaneous nephrostomy
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Drainage of fluid collections. e.g. an abdominal abscess
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Administration of intravenous fluids, medication or parenteral nutrition with a peripheral venous catheter
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Angioplasty , angiography , balloon septostomy ,and balloon sinuplasty.
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Direct measurement of blood pressure in an artery or vein
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Direct measurement of intracranial pressure
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Administration of anaesthetic medication into the epidural space, the subarachnoid space , or around a major nerve bundle such as the brachial plexus
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Subcutaneous administration of insulin or other medications, with the use of an infusion set and insulin pump
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A central venous catheter is a conduit for giving drugs or fluids into a large-bore catheter positioned either in a vein near the heart or just inside the atrium.
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A Swan-Ganz catheter is a special type of catheter placed into the pulmonary artery for measuring pressures in the heart.
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An umbilical line is a catheter used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) providing quick access to the central circulation of premature infants.
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A Quinton catheter is a double or triple lumen, external catheter used for hemodialysis .
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Cow – catheter – metal
- Mare catheter – Gumelastic
- C.V.P. catheter –
- Oesophageal catheter
- Foley catheter
- Gunther’s catheter – guttural pouch in equines
- Nasal oxygen catheter
- Suction catheter
- Urethral catheter
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Last modified: Wednesday, 9 May 2012, 5:27 AM