title: The Variable Flow Characteristics for Different Brands of 3-Way Urinary Catheters: Proposing an Alternate and Accurate Standardised Labelling System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate an alternative catheter labelling approach for 3-way catheters based on the drainage channel and irrigation channel cross-sectional area (CSA), which impacts catheter flow rate characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-way 22Fr catheters from Bard (Bard Limited), Rusch Simplastic (Teleflex Medical), Dover (COVIDIEN), and Rusch Golden were included in the study. Irrigation channel, drainage channel, and overall CSAs were digitally measured with an image-processing program. Irrigation channel and drainage channel flow rates were measured and correlated with their corresponding catheter CSA values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Catheter CSA and French value did not predict flow-rate characteristics, but irrigation channel CSA and drainage channel CSA were predictive. The 22Fr Rusch Simplastic catheter had the largest irrigation channel CSA (2.87 mm(2)) and drainage channel CSA (12.6 mm(2)), and had the greatest irrigation (5.27 ± 0.02 ml/s) and drainage flow rates (14.42 ± 0.22 ml/s). Twenty-two French gauge Rusch Golden catheters had the smallest irrigation channel CSA (1.34 mm(2)) and drainage channel CSA (7.82 mm(2)) and the lowest irrigation (1.83 ± 0.03 ml/s) and drainage flow rates (1.83 ± 0.03 ml/s).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An alternative catheter labelling system to include overall CSA, irrigation channel CSA, and drainage channel CSA values would provide more accurate and transparent data relevant to anticipated drainage and irrigation flow rates. The proposed labelling method will assist urologists in selecting 3-way catheters for bladder irrigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland; Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research, Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Co Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: nialldavis@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Niall F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mamoun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research, Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Co Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Conor V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research, Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Co Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eoghan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research, Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Co Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thornhill
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D062885:Urinary Catheters