title: Catheter valves for indwelling urinary catheters: a systematic review.
abstract: This mini-review aimed to systematically review the evidence on the effect of catheter valves compared to free drainage into a bag for patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Data sources used were Medline, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, Ahmed, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, the Cochrane Library and reference lists of relevant papers. Papers considered were controlled trials comparing the use of a catheter valve with the catheter bag that were published as a full report, or detailed abstract (containing sufficient information to critique) in Dutch, German or English. Two studies with a total of 122 subjects were identified. The main outcome measures considered were reduction of incidence of bladder spasm and urinary tract infection (UTI) and patient preference. No statistically difference in the incidence of bladder spasm or UTI was demonstrated but patients showed a clear preference for the valve. Further research into catheter valves is needed, with larger study groups, which include housebound male and female patients, and longer follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Westminster Primary Care Trust, and King's College London, UK. Esther.VanDenEijkel@westminster-pct.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Eijkel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D003085:Colic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D004867:Equipment Design; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control