A catheter is a soft, flexible tube inserted into a patient’s urinary bladder via the urethra to assist the urine drainage. They are extensively used in hospitalized or bedridden patients as well as in individuals with urinary difficulties as they provide aid in emptying the bladder. Urinary catheters come as catheterization kits along with other components needed to employ a catheter tray.
Catheter trays
Different materials are used to manufacture catheter trays which are later filled with medical supplies needed to do catheterization. Both stainless steel trays, as well as single-use disposable trays, are available in the market.
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Stainless steel catheterization trays
Catheter insertion trays are constructed using heavy-duty 304 18-8 stainless steel which is corrosion-resistant and highly durable. They are available in different sizes and dimensions.
| Catheter trays | Dimensions |
|---|---|
 | Length: 17.25” (44 cm) Width: 4.50” (11 cm) Height: 1.5” (4 cm) |
 | Length: 8.87” (23 cm) Width: 5.25” (13 cm) Height: 2” (5 cm) |
 | Length: 8.87” (23 cm) Width: 5” (13 cm) Height: 3” (8 cm) |
 | Length: 8.75” (2 cm) Width: 3.25” (8 cm) Height: 1.5” (4 cm) |
Stainless steel catheter trays in different shapes and dimensions
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Single-use disposable catheter trays
Single-use disposable catheterization trays are frequently used in hospital setups. They contain all the necessary equipment for the insertion of a catheter.
Components of a catheterization tray kit
A catheter tray kit is usually a single-use assembly used to drain the bladder fluids in patients with urinary incontinence. Its components include:
• Catheters (e.g. a Foley catheter)
• Disposable sterile exam gloves (Nitrile based gloves)
• PVP or BZK swab sticks
• Underpads
• Peel-back lid
• Forceps (2)
• Lubricating jelly (to lubricate the catheter tip prior to insertion)
• Iodine solution (to wipe the urethral area)
• Waterproof drapes (plane and diamond-shaped)
• Cotton balls with container
• Sterile specimen container for collecting a urine sample
• Syringe (10 cc) to inflate the catheter balloon (prefilled with sterile water)
• Flex track anti-slip tapes
Catheter materials
Urinary catheters are manufactured by using:
• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
• Latex
• Silicone
• Teflon
• Red Rubber
• Plastic
How to insert a urinary catheter?
A urinary catheter is inserted into a patient’s body in the following way:
• To start the process, ask the patient to move their legs in such as a position that both feet touch each other at the heels to expose the urethral area.
• Take out the drainage bag with attached tubing and secure it to the bed frame to keep it below the patient’s waist level. Make sure that the flange at the bottom is closed so that the urine does not flow out of the bag once the catheter is connected. Clip the free tip of the drainage tube to the linen sheets for now. Make sure it is unexposed to keep it sterile.
• Put the non-sterile blue pad underneath the patient to manage any urinary dripping while the catheter is being inserted.
• The nurse should thoroughly sanitize hands using a hand sanitizer.
• The single-use catheterization kit should be opened in such a way that only a 1-inch border of the covering is being touched with bare hands to minimize contamination.
• Take out the tongs from the kit and with its help, put the drapes, cleaning gauze, and gloves out of the box.
• With sanitized hands, place the plane drapes underneath the patient while the diamond-shaped drapes are to be put between the legs only exposing the urethra.
• Put the gloves on starting from the dominant hand.
• Open the provided iodine solution and pour it onto the cotton balls. Use these cotton balls to clean the patient’s urethral area from top to bottom with repeated single strokes. Make sure to use each cotton ball only once.
• Open the sterile catheter and check if the balloon is being inflated without any leakage using a syringe filled with sterile water.
• Lubricate its tip with the provided lubricating solution.
• Insert it up to 5 to 7 cm into the urinary bladder and inflate the balloon. Attach the tip of the drainage tube with the end of the catheter and tape it to the patient’s leg using tape to secure its position. Remove the drapes. Ask the patient to straighten their legs, and assist them if needed.
Conclusion
Catheter tray kits are one of the essential medical equipment with extensive use in patients with urinary difficulties. These contain all the essential sterile and non-sterile medical supplies which are used in the process of inserting a catheter thus making them a necessary tool in the medical field.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
