Urinary catheterization is a process in which a hollow tube is inserted in the urethra. This is a flexible tube designed to collect urine from the bladder. It leads out to a drainage bag that captures the urine.
There are two different types of catheters available. The first is referred to as an “indwelling” or “Foley” catheter. Specialized Foley supplies are needed for this type of catheterization. Indwelling catheters are held in place by a water-filled balloon that prevents the catheter from sliding out of the bladder.
The other common type of catheter is the intermittent catheter. This requires a different set of urological supplies. That is because this type of catheter is designed to be inserted several times per day—long enough to drain urine before removal.