An overview of intermittent self-catheterisation

Intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) is a highly effective method in the management of urinary incontinence issues. It is considered a gold standard for urine drainage (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), (2015).

ISC is mostly used when dealing with issues that result from disturbances or injury to the nervous system, non-neurogenic bladder dysfunction or intravesical obstruction with incomplete bladder emptying. In a hospital, intermittent catheterisation is often used for diagnostic evaluation, such as in order to obtain a urine sample or to facilitate urodynamics (NICE, 2015).

Before starting a patient on intermittent catheterisation, the following should be considered: their symptom severity profile; renal function; risk assessment; psychological and physical ability to perform intermittent catheterisation; and their residual urine status (NICE, 2015). The patient should not be initiated on intermittent catheterisation based solely on their residual urine status.