Catheter

A plain catheter is a simple, flexible tube used to drain urine from the bladder when a person is unable to urinate naturally. It is typically designed without additional features like balloons or coatings and is often used for short-term or intermittent catheterization, allowing for easy insertion and removal.

What is a plain catheter?

A plain catheter, also known as a straight or intermittent catheter, is a simple, flexible tube made from materials like rubber, silicone, or PVC, designed to temporarily drain urine from the bladder. Unlike Foley catheters, plain catheters do not have an inflatable balloon at the tip to hold them in place within the bladder, which means they are intended for single-use or short-term applications.

The main purpose of a plain catheter is to relieve urinary retention, allowing patients who are unable to empty their bladder on...