
Catheters (IV & Urinary Catheters): Purposes & Complications - WebMD
Oct 5, 2025 · A catheter is a thin, flexible tube that carries fluids into or out of your body. It can put medicine or nutrients directly into one of your veins, or it can help pee flow out of your bladder.
Catheter - Wikipedia
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 …
Urinary Catheter: Purpose, Types, Placement & Complications
May 21, 2025 · 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. They …
Urinary Catheters: Uses, Types, and Complications - Healthline
Nov 16, 2023 · 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...
Urinary catheters: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Jan 1, 2025 · A urinary catheter is a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder.
When and Why a Urinary Catheter is Used - Verywell Health
Dec 25, 2025 · A Foley catheter is a tube used to help people urinate when they can't do it on their own. Catheters are used during surgery or when a person can't use a bedpan or is incontinent.
What is a Urinary Catheter? - Kaiser Permanente
The catheter is a long, thin, flexible tube with a balloon on one end. When the balloon is filled with saline it expands, helping the tube stay in your bladder.
Catheterisation: Types, Procedure, Risks and Care Guide
Jun 24, 2025 · A urinary catheter is a flexible tube designed to drain and collect urine from the bladder. This medical device provides a solution for individuals with difficulty with natural urination, offering …
Urinary catheters - NHS
A urinary catheter is a flexible tube used to empty the bladder and collect urine in a drainage bag. Urinary catheters are usually inserted by a doctor or nurse.
All about catheters: Types, how-to, products - Coloplast US
Urinary catheters are used to manage incontinence or urinary retention. Some people require a catheter for a short period of time, while others, like older adults and people with permanent injuries, may …