A novel, inexpensive, double lumen suprapubic catheter for urodynamics.

PURPOSE

We describe a novel, double lumen, intravesical, suprapubic catheter designed to meet the requirements of pediatric urodynamics that is easy to use and has minimal complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A commercially available 10Fr pediatric suprapubic pigtail catheter forms the outer lumen for instilling filling media. A 16 gauge epidural catheter is inserted through the outer catheter providing an inner lumen for measuring intravesical pressures. The resultant double-lumen catheter is inserted suprapubically using a peel away needle supplied with the 10Fr catheter, with the patient under general anesthetic.

RESULTS

The catheter has been used for 15 years in more than 700 patients with good reliability and few complications. The concentric construction of the double lumens and the rigidity of the inner intravesical pressure channel ensure there is no transmission of pressure from the filling channel to the inner lumen. The catheter has a circular cross section and a pigtail distal end which help to retain it within the bladder. There is low resistance to filling that allows adequate filling rates to be achieved by gravity rather than necessitating a pump. The catheter is easily made from readily available components and is less expensive than other double-lumen catheters suitable for suprapubic use.

CONCLUSIONS

A reliable, double lumen catheter that fulfills criteria not found in commercially available alternatives can be inexpensively made for urodynamics.