Chronic urinary catheter blockage

Catheter blockage is a common complication of long-term urinary catheterisation which causes distress to the patient and presents management problems for both nursing and medical practitioners. Jennifer Kohler-Ockmore's study aimed to investigate some of the factors which may cause catheter blockage and how they may be overcome. Fifty-four patients, resident in the community, were monitored over a period of six months. The findings revealed that patients were divided into two groups, those with and those without catheter blockage. The only factors identified which differentiated these patients were urinary pH and the incidence of proteus organisms in the urine. The presence or history of bladder stones was also noted among patients who presented with chronic episodes of blockage.