| Abstrakt: |
Urinary catheterisation is a clinical skill that is frequently performed in the operating theatre by health professionals. With its recent inclusion as a core competency that needs to be obtained by undergraduate operating department practitioner (ODP) students in the new BSc curriculum, the number of ODPs carrying out this skill regularly is likely to rise in the forthcoming years. Catheterisation should not be performed unless there is a clear indication due to the associated morbidity, such as catheter-related urinary infections, trauma and discomfort to the patient. This article discusses indications for catheterisation, methods of catheter insertion, complications associated with having an indwelling catheter and, most importantly, ways to minimise the risks and improve patient outcome and comfort. |
