What Is A Catheter, And Why,how It's Used

Posted on Fri, 21 Jun 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : what is a catheter, and why,how it's used

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Flexible tubular medical devise

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
Catheter is a flexible tubular structure that is used to pass into body structures for medical or surgical reasons.
There are many types of catheters used in human body and hence the uses will depend upon the diseases, its indications.
This is either to drain the fluids out of body, for example Foley's catheter is passed per urethra into the urinary bladder to drain out urine.
Or as a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, for example cardiac catheter for angiography as a diagnostic procedure and angioplasty as a therapeutic procedure.
These are skilled jobs done by respective Specialists in their field or their assistants.

I hope this answers your queries.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

With Regards.
Dr T Chandrakant

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar