[Intermittent catheterization: What are the environmental impacts and how can they be reduced?]

If the use of intermittent catheterization has revolutionized the prognosis of neuro-urology patients, it seems necessary to question the ecological cost of single-use catheters, in a process of decarbonization of the health sector. The aim of this work is to identify the environmental impact of intermittent catheterization and potential solutions to reduce it.

A review of the literature on the environmental impact of intermittent catheterizations was conducted. Potential solutions to reduce this impact and possible alternatives were then studied based on data from the literature.

Only two studies were identified. The first estimated the amount of waste generated by intermittent catheterization in the USA to be between 4400 and 38,964 tons per year. The second study showed a higher overall environmental impact of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) catheters than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) catheters and catheters made from polyolefin material. Reuse of catheters would reduce the amount of waste, but the paucity of data does not allow us to determine if the incidence of urinary tract infection would be affected. Alternative micturition methods, in addition to the complications they may cause, require the use of collection bags or pads, which also have an environmental impact. Other treatments for dysuria exist, but the evidence is limited and does not cover all patient populations.

With limited alternatives, it appears essential to develop more environmentally friendly catheters.