title: Catheter valves: a welcome alternative to leg bags.
abstract: Catheterisation is commonly used to manage long-term bladder drainage. If intermittent catheterisation is not possible an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter will be used. There are a choice of drainage systems for use with indwelling urinary catheters including bed bags, link systems and catheter valves. Catheter valves are not suitable for everybody and patient assessment is vital: only patients with the cognitive ability and manual dexterity to operate a valve should be offered this option for bladder drainage. Catheter valves offer a number of advantages over drainage bags including improved privacy and dignity, prevention of bladder-neck trauma, reduced catheter encrustation and maintenance of normal detrusor muscle function. A number of catheter valves are available, including the EZ-Flow valve, and patient choice is important when selecting an appropriate product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate Research, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodward
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing*; D062885:Urinary Catheters; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy