Draining Urinary Sediments Through Conventional Eyelet Catheters and New Intermittent Micro-Hole Zone Catheters

The purpose of this study was to assess sediments in complicated and uncomplicated urine samples and the ability of conventional and micro-hole intermittent catheters to drain these sediments.

Randomized, single-blinded, cross-over study.

Adult healthy volunteers (male and female) and patients regularly using intermittent catheterization were enrolled. Urine samples from these study participants were collected with a conventional eyelet catheter and a micro-hole zone catheter, on separate days. In addition, complicated urine samples defined as urine containing large numbers of visible casts and mucus collected from patients visiting a urology department in Copenhagen Denmark were collected with a conventional catheter with extra-large eyelets.

All urine samples from patients and healthy volunteers were analyzed within 48 hours of collection. The number and size distribution of sediments in uncomplicated urine was evaluated using automated light microscopy. Sediments in complicated urine also were assessed with conventional light microscopy. Laboratory-based drainage tests were performed for complicated urine using both types of catheters.

Similar types of sediments were found in all urine samples, with sizes from 2 to 195 μm in clear urine and 2 to 131 μm in cloudy urine. More sediments were found in cloudy and complicated urine compared with clear samples. In complicated urine, the number of sediments in some instances was large enough to obstruct flow in some micro-hole catheters, and a few conventional catheters as well.

Most urine samples can be successfully drained through micro-hole zone catheters, but care should be exercised in recommending these catheters to patients with complicated urine, containing large numbers of visible sediments.