Using bladder instillations to manage indwelling catheters

Indwelling urinary catheters are commonly used in both acute and primary care settings but patients often experience problems with blockage of the catheter as a result of encrustation. Bladder instillations of differing solutions are used in an attempt to prevent and treat this problem of encrustation. This article looks at some of the issues surrounding the use and methods of these solutions. Based on an audit performed by a group of continence clinical nurse specialists in five areas of the UK, results of a questionnaire sent to acute and primary care nursing staff in 2003 are presented and discussed. The questionnaire covered a variety of clinical issues involved in performing bladder instillations and the results show that there is a wide variation of practice across the UK. The authors conclude that there are issues pertaining to bladder instillations which warrant further work.