From indwelling Foley to fail-safe voiding: Proposed changes in design and thinking

Abstract

The Foley indwelling urethral catheter (IDC) has been an effective part of the clinician’s armoury for more than 80 years. It meets wide clinical needs, such as overcoming urinary retention for men and perioperative management, but its use risks the major iatrogenic conditions of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and urethral injury (CAUI) – the latter mainly in men. This article focuses on CAUI, examines some factors contributing to these risks, makes suggestions for design solutions which may help tackle them and invites collaboration to develop more effective and fail-safe IDC or voiding solutions.