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What is a Coude Catheter?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A coude catheter is a urinary catheter with a tip that is designed for easy insertion. These catheters are used in people with urinary tract obstructions that make it difficult to insert a conventional catheter and are more commonly used in men, although sometimes women develop obstructions that necessitate the use of a catheter of this design. The coude tip can be attached to a wide variety of catheters for different types of purposes and procedures. In addition to being used by doctors and nurses, such catheters can be used at home by patients who need to self-catheterize for various reasons.

The coude catheter has a tip that is slightly curved. This is designed to allow it to navigate past obstructions in the urinary tract, such as a swollen prostate in men. Conventional catheters can get stuck, or may expose a patient to risk of damage such as tearing if the catheter is forced past an obstruction. The design also allows the device to be inserted into patients with narrowed urinary tracts, and comes in a range of sizes so that clinicians can select the most appropriate width.

A coude catheter is more commonly used in men with urinary tract obstructions.
A coude catheter is more commonly used in men with urinary tract obstructions.

To insert the catheter, a care provider needs to clean the area, don gloves, and remove the catheter from the sterile packaging. Lubricants can be applied to make the catheter easier to insert. The device is slowly threaded into place and is not forced. An inflation balloon can be attached to keep the catheter in place once it has been guided into the bladder, while an attached bag collects the urine that drains from the catheter.

A coude catheter.
A coude catheter.

The design was developed in the 1800s by a French physician who named it after himself. Many medical equipment manufacturers produce coude catheters along with supplies and accessories such as urine collection bags. The devices are stocked in hospitals and clinics, and patients who need to use them at home can order them through medical supply catalogs or obtain them directly from their doctors.

Urine flows through a catheter to a special collection bag.
Urine flows through a catheter to a special collection bag.

Some coude catheters are designed to be left in place to provide drainage over an extended period of time. People who need surgery on the urogenital area often need catheters because urination is painful or impossible due to swelling in the immediate wake of the surgery. Once the need is over, the coude catheter can be removed to allow the patient to urinate normally. Other patients may need long term catheterization for reasons such as paralysis.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon126915

Thank you for sharing this information about coude catheters. While coudes are used much more sparingly than other catheter products like Foley catheters, they are very useful for individual for whom 'regular' catheters are no longer an option- especially for men with prostate enlargement.

zenmaster

What is the difference between a coude and a foley catheter?

Charlie89

My father had to use a male coude catheter for his prostate problems, and although it's not the most pleasant thing in the world to think about, those things really are lifesavers for people who have trouble urinating because of their prostate problems.

yournamehere

One quick tip about coude catheter insertion -- if it starts to get stuck, then you can try slowly rotating it to get past the obstruction.

Another thing to remember is not to inflate the balloon on your coude tip catheter until the urine begins to flow into the bag.

Finally, even if you do get urine coming out with the catheter, but it slips out, then it is inserted improperly. You need to remove it and start again with a new one.

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    • A coude catheter is more commonly used in men with urinary tract obstructions.
      By: Monkey Business
      A coude catheter is more commonly used in men with urinary tract obstructions.
    • A coude catheter.
      By: jamdesign
      A coude catheter.
    • Urine flows through a catheter to a special collection bag.
      By: Rob Byron
      Urine flows through a catheter to a special collection bag.
    • Coude catheters are designed to navigate past obstructions like a swollen prostate.
      By: peterjunaidy
      Coude catheters are designed to navigate past obstructions like a swollen prostate.
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      By: joshya
      Treatment for some forms of bladder cancer may involve the use of a catheter.