Importance of pH monitoring in the care of long-term catheters.

One of the main complications encountered by patients with long-term indwelling catheters is that of catheter blockage as a result of encrustation. This is usually managed at a district nurse level by the administration of catheter maintenance solutions (CMSs) or frequent catheter changes. However,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Journal of Nursing Vol. 10; no. 19; pp. 1240 - 1246
Main Authors: McCarthy K, Hunter I
Format: forms tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Mark Allen Holdings Limited 10/25/2001
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:One of the main complications encountered by patients with long-term indwelling catheters is that of catheter blockage as a result of encrustation. This is usually managed at a district nurse level by the administration of catheter maintenance solutions (CMSs) or frequent catheter changes. However, catheter changes and maintenance solutions are often only employed after blockage has occurred. Regular recording of catheter care and urinary pH monitoring can be utilized to optimize the management of long-term catheters and plan catheter changes and CMS administration in a prophylactic manner. This article reviews the literature regarding CMS and urinary pH and demonstrates how the introduction of continued and formalized recording of catheter care and pH monitoring can improve long-term catheter management.