Addressing the challenge of providing nursing care for elderly men suffering from urethral erosion

Urethral erosion in the male patient with a long-term indwelling catheter is a known but poorly documented sequelae of catheter injury. It is a difficult and challenging problem for staff, the patient, and his family. Urethral erosion affects not only the complexity of the patient's care but also the patient's quality of life. In recent months, 3 elderly gentlemen who were living in 3 different long-term care facilities were referred to us for assistance with their wounds, which were a direct result of catheter-related urethral erosion. In an attempt to find a solution for these difficult-to-manage wounds, the authors conducted a review of the literature. It quickly became evident that although literature is available describing urethral erosion and its relationship to indwelling urethral catheters, there is no literature available that describes the treatment and management of wounds caused by urethral erosion. Realizing that a solution to the problem or treatment of urethral erosion could not be found in the literature, the authors developed a treatment option for the management of urethral erosion. This article describes the plan of care devised to treat these 3 male patients with urethral erosion. Through the use of soft silicone foam and soft silicone tape, a treatment plan was devised that removed the pressure, decreased catheter movement, and provided a moist wound healing environment.