female catheterization, a procedure for removing urine by means of a urinary catheter introduced through the urinary meatus and urethra into the bladder. The procedure is performed for relief of distension if voluntary micturition is not possible (such as after trauma or surgery), as a preparation for and during anesthesia, or if a specimen of urine from the bladder is required or medication is to be instilled into the bladder. A straight catheter or a retention catheter with a balloon may be used. A French size 12 to 16 catheter is usually selected for straight drainage. See also catheterization, male catheterization. ▪ METHOD: The necessary sterile equipment is usually available in a sterile catheterization kit and includes cotton swabs, a bowl for collecting urine, a disposable catheter, a sponge stick for holding the swabs, a disinfectant for washing the urinary meatus and the perineal area adjacent to it, gloves, a lubricant for the catheter tip, and a drape. Often a preassembled kit of disposable sterile equipment is available, leaving only the separately packaged catheter to be selected. A clean, rather than sterile, technique can be used for self-catheterization. ▪ OUTCOME CRITERIA: Catheterization predisposes the urinary tract to infection, and traumatic catheterization further increases the risk. Care, gentleness, and asepsis are essential. If the bladder is distended with urine, it may cause damage to the bladder, chills, and shock. Certain conditions, including radical vulvectomy, postoperative swelling, or structural anomalies, may obscure the urinary meatus. The indication for catheterization, the age of the patient, and the condition and size of the urethra affect the choice of catheter style and size.
