Reinventing one of urology’s oldest tools
New approaches to catheter design could reduce complications and improve quality of life.
Despite decades of iteration, the core problems with urinary catheters persist, including catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), incomplete bladder emptying, blockage, patient discomfort, traumatic catheter removal and the burden of care.
Sara M. Lenherr, MD, MS, URPS, associate professor of urology at the University of Utah, will discuss a fundamental shift in how the field thinks about catheterization at today’s session, State-of-the-Art Lecture: New Developments in Urinary Catheters, 10:45-11 a.m. in Hall D.
“This is a pivot point in the field. The catheter is no longer a temporary tool. Our patients are living longer and require more complex, chronic care, often with assisted bladder management. We need to recognize that the original Foley catheter design is no longer sufficient. We need to understand how the catheter is interacting with the bladder, and from there, we can innovate designs that help improve patient care,” Dr. Lenherr said.
The new developments mark a fundamental change in the approach to catheterization. In the past, the urinary catheter was just a tool used by urologists, and urologists tolerated the primitive design despite its limitations. Newer designs are not merely managing complications; they are trying to prevent them. Companies are improving catheter design through urine flow optimization, antifouling materials, safety-engineered catheters, mechanical redesign of indwelling catheters, catheter alternatives and reusable catheter systems.
The catheter field is currently undergoing a transition. Although some technologies have FDA clearance and are commercially available, their clinical adoption remains in the early stages, and real-world data are beginning to emerge. Furthermore, clinical outcomes data are variable and evidence-light for some technologies. With time, urologists should hope these new technologies will affect infection rates, emergency room visits, complications, patient quality of life and the sustainability of urological care.
