Glossary term
Urinary Catheter
Reference only — not medical advice. See disclaimer.
A flexible tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine, used intra-operatively for monitoring, post-operatively in patients with restricted mobility, or longer-term in selected patients with neurogenic bladder. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) risk rises with each day of catheter use; modern protocols emphasise early removal.