[Self intermittent catheterization and voiding duration: in vitro flow rate assessment of catheters used in...

To assess the flow rate obtained by catheters used in self intermittent catheterization.

In vitro comparative study designed to compare the average flow rate obtained by intravesical catheters, by repeated flowmetric measures. The catheters studied were the most used in France in Fr10, 12 and 14 for female catheters and in Fr12, 14 and 16 for male catheters.

We observed a strict relationship between Charriere and flow rate, both in female and male catheters These results were statistically significant (P<0.05). For female catheters, the average flow rate varied from 2.83 to 3.7 mL/s for Fr10 catheters, from 4.31 to 5.35 mL/s for Fr12 catheters and from 7.00 to 7.85 mL/s for Fr14 catheters (P<0.05). For male catheters, the average flow rate varied from 4.53 to 5.00 mL/s for Fr12 catheters, from 6.95 to 8.17 mL/s for Fr14 catheters and from 10.4 to 11.07 mL/s for Fr16 catheters (P<0.05). In female and male population, despite the observed flow rate differences between catheters, there were no statistically significant differences.

This study demonstrated a better flow rate when Charriere increases. Thus, an objective adaptation of self catheterization's materiel is possible when the patient wishes to improve flow rate in order to reduce self intermittent catheterization duration.