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The effect of acidic maintenance solutions on catheter longevity
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton.
Abstract:
Long-term urinary catheterisation is rarely completely free of complications. Catheter blockage from mineral salt encrustation occurs in 40-50 per cent of patients. Recurrent blockage is distressing to patients and carers and costly to health services in both time and resources. Laboratory-based evidence shows acidic maintenance solutions can be effective in dissolving encrustations. This is supported by clinical experience but there are few clinical studies and no well-controlled clinical trials to date. This article examines the range of evidence for the effect of maintenance solutions on catheter longevity.
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