The following article appears in the September 1998 issue of Outspoken and is reprinted here with permission from The Robson Clinic and The Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario. A spotlight on the Charles J. Robson Clinic, Lyndhurst Spinal Cord CentreThe Robson Clinic has on display, an Incontinence Resource board with several samples supplied by the product companies and distributers for trial. In this article, we will examine a few of the new, or unique products that we have seen over the past few years. Urinary Collection Products - "New & Improved"
Intermittent Catheterization
Your doctor may have recommended a curved tip catheter (coude tip) due to difficulty inserting a straight catheter, or because of bleeding. The curved tip must be inserted with the curve pointing upward following the natural curve of the urethra. There are many curved tip catheters to choose from. They are generally more expensive than the straight catheters, and vary in price. Usually a gentle curve is all that is necessary, and our experience has shown that the polished catheter (described next), is less likely to cause further trauma to the urethra. The eyelets of a catheter (the tiny holes at the insertion end that allow the urine to drain from the bladder) are machine punched, and can left sharp edges. "Polished" means that the the eyelet openings have been smoothed and no longer are sharp at the edges. "Female" catheters are simply shorter in length, there is no other difference. The shorter catheters make it easier for the female person to catheterize on the toilet. The longer catheters may still be easier for a female to use, if they catheterize in a lying position, since the extra length will help to direct the flow of urine into the container. A helpful product to assist with emptying is extension tubing that attaches to the end of a catheter. One end of the tubing is fitted onto a catheter with a flare (funnel shape) at the end, providing extra length. The other end can then be easily directed into the toilet. There is also self contained packets that include a sterile catheter, lubricant, and the collection bag all in one unit. These are intended to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections, but many people also use them for the convenience. They come in handy for trips, outings, etc. They are however, more expensive than straight catheters, and can be used only one time before being discarded.
For Condom Drainage
Over the past ten years, there have been great advances in the area of condom collection devices. They can be applied with glue, tape or can be self adhesive. They can be made with latex or non-latex material for more sensitive skin. Some non-latex are clear so that the skin integrity can be seen. If the condom has a tendency to come off, we have found that condoms with glue starting in the funnel part of the condom, are more likely to stay on. They can also come in regular length or a shorter version. This is a relatively new concept introduced over the past couple of years. Many companies now offer them.
A Female Urinal
This device can be used for the female person who voids on her own. It is a urinal that is designed to accommodate the female anatomy. It may be useful for those who find it difficult to transfer onto the toilet, or for long car rides!
If you have any questions about the products discussed, please contact your supplier, or you may contact the Robson Clinic, 416 597-3422 ext 6218.
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