Use of lubricant gels in urinary catheterisation.
Nurses with prescribing qualifications are now able to prescribe catheters and catheter management products. An estimated 15 to 20 per cent of patients admitted to hospital are catheterised. Catheterisation is an invasive procedure that carries complications of infection, pain, urethral trauma, bleeding, inflammation and stricture formation. Protecting the sensitive urethral lining with an unbroken film of lubricant can reduce damage to the urethra. The NICE guidelines suggest that lubricant from a single-use container should be used to minimise the risk of trauma and infection. This applies to both men and women. The practice of dipping the end of the catheter in lubricant is not sufficient as it may be wiped off at the entrance to the urethra.