> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matt Heywood
> Sent: 16 August 2010 18:02
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Male vs female catheters
>
>
> We've had an incident where a short female Foley catheter was
> inserted
> into a male urethra. The NPSA alert in April 2009 suggested
> both notices
> in the storage area and big, obvious stickers on each
> catheter packet.
> We had done these and still it happened.
>
> I want to remove our future risk by no longer stocking female
> catheters
> in the department. OK so ladies will have more tube sticking
> out but for
> most purposes I don't see this as an issue.
>
> My question is aside from convenience is does anyone know any
> evidence-based reason to use short catheters in women?
> Neither the NICE
> infection control guidance nor the RCN catheter guidance mentioned in
> the NPSA document mention any. I don't think that "convenience" is a
> good enough reason to continue to carry the risk of another man being
> damaged.
>
> Thanks
>
> Matt Heywood
> Consultant, EM
> Macclesfield
It's a ritual ? Yes the female urethra is shorter and yes there's less
'hanging out' if a short catheter is used but there is no functional
difference and it'll please the bean counters that you hasve reduced the
number of stock lines ...
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