Male Catheters
To search for Southlake Medical's catheters by brand, please choose from the list located under "Catheters By Brand" on the menu to your left. If you do not find a specific catheter that you are looking for, please call our Catheter Specialist at 1-866-481-9002.
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Southlake Medical carries a wide range of male intermittent, hydrophilic and closed system catheters available through major manufacturers - Astra Tech, Bard, Coloplast-Mentor, Hollister, MTG (Medical Technologies of Georgia), Rusch, Cure and Rochester. We diligently research the top brands - Self-Cath®, MMG™, FloCath, Easy Cath™, Bardia®, LoFric®, APOGEE -Personal Catheter® - to insure that we always are aware of the latest products and technologies and pass that knowledge on to you.
Below is information for the most common types of male catheters available on the market today. If you have any questions regarding the management and care of urinary incontinence, please call our Catheter Specialists at 1-866-481-9002.
About Male Catheters
What is a male catheter?
A catheter is a thin, flexible, soft tube which is inserted through the urethra to drain the urine from the bladder. It may stay in place for a short or long time depending on the type and reason for its use.
Urinary catheters are used to drain the bladder. Your health care provider may recommend a catheter for short-term or long-term use because you have or had:
- Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine or the inability to control when you urinate)For more information on Urinary incontinence, click here.
- Urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder when needed)
- Surgery that made a catheter necessary, such as gynecological surgery
- Other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or dementia
Catheters come in many sizes, materials (latex, plastic, Teflon), and types (Foley, straight, coude tip). A Foley catheter, for example, is a soft, plastic or rubber tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine and is designed to remain inserted for a few days.
In general, the smallest possible catheter will be used. Some people may need larger catheters to control urine leakage around the catheter or if the urine is thick and bloody or contains large amounts of sediment.
Male Catheter Sizes
The diameter of a catheter is measured in millimeters. Authorities recommend using the narrowest and softest tube that will serve the purpose. Rarely is a catheter larger than size 18 F(rench) required, and sizes 14 or 16 F are used more often. Catheters greater than size 16 F have been associated with patient discomfort and urine bypassing. A size 12 catheter has been successfully used in children with urinary restriction.
Southlake Medical offers three main types of male catheters:
- Intermittent catheters
- Intermittent Hydrophilic catheters
- Closed System catheters
Male Intermittent Catheters
Purpose
Intermittent catheterization is used for the following reasons:
- Obtaining a sterile urine specimen for diagnostic evaluation.
- Emptying bladder contents when an individual is unable to void (urinate) due to urinary retention, bladder distention, or obstruction.
- Measuring residual urine after urinating.
- Instilling medication for a localized therapeutic effect in the bladder.
- Instilling contrast material (dye) into the bladder for cystourethralgraphy (x-ray study of the bladder and urethra).
- Emptying the bladder for increased space in the pelvic cavity to protect the bladder during labor and delivery or during pelvic and abdominal surgery.
- Monitoring accurately the urinary output and fluid balance of critically ill patients.
Intermittent catheterization may be necessary for:
- Anyone who is unable to properly empty the bladder
- People with nervous system (neurological) disorders
The goal of intermittent catheterization is to:
- Completely empty the bladder
- Prevent further bladder or kidney damage
- Prevent urinary tract infections
To search for Southlake Medical's catheters by brand, please choose from the list located under "Catheters By Brand" on the menu to your left. If you do not find a specific catheter that you are looking for, please call our Catheter Specialist at 1-866-481-9002.
Male Intermittent Catheters
Intermittent catheters (IC) are used in persons with spinal cord injuries (quadriplegics & paraplegics) and for those persons with urinary retention (incomplete bladder emptying). During urination, the bladder contracts, and the pelvic floor muscles relax to allow urine to pass through the urethra. Normally, after the bladder empties, there is a small amount of urine (less than 3 ounces) left in the bladder. What is left is known as the Post-Void Residual Volume. If you cannot urinate or completely empty your bladder, a large residual volume will build up. A large build-up of urine in the bladder is unhealthy. This condition can cause bladder infections, urinary incontinence, and permanent damage to the bladder and kidneys. The non-sterile clean approach is called clean intermittent catheterization (CIC.) This has a low risk of infection and if an infection occurs it is usually managed without causing damage to your kidneys. Older persons and those with impaired immune systems (e.g. persons with AIDS or those receiving chemotherapy) are at risk for developing urinary infections. The sterile approach may be better. It is not known if elderly persons should also perform the catheterization using sterile catheters.
Male Intermittent Catheter Materials
Intermittent catheters (IC) for men come in a variety of materials such as silicone, latex or plastic and are in men with urinary retention and in men who have become paraplegic or quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury.
Intermittent Catheter Sizes
Intermittent catheters for men are generally 12 inches long and come in French sizes 10Fr-24Fr.
Male Intermittent Hydrophilic Catheters
Intermittent catheters are also available with a hydrophilic coating. This coating is a layer of polymer which is bound to the surface of the catheter. The polymer absorbs and binds water to the catheter, producing a thick, smooth and slippery surface that remains intact upon introduction into the man's urethra and lubricates the urethra in its entire length. Use of hydrophilic catheters have led to increased patient satisfaction with this type of technique and are assumed to reduce the risk of urethral damage by decreasing the friction applied when the catheter is inserted and withdrawn.
Closed System Catheters
Closed System Catheters are catheters that typically come pre-attached to the drainage bag. Kits come with the catheter separate from the bag. Southlake Medical offers both. Closed System Catheters provides you trouble-free disposal and minimal infectivity.To contact a Southlake Medical Catheter Specialist, please call us at 1-866-481-9002.