Impact of Atkinson Product Design Urinary Slide Valve Versus Standard Catheter Drainage System on Social Functioning

Several indications exist in urologic practice where urinary drainage via a urethral catheter is required and an estimated 4 million patients in the United States undergo urinary catheterization per year.(1) Though it is common for urine to be continually collected in a bag attached to the catheter by plastic tubing, catheter valves offer an alternative method of storing and voiding urine. Catheter valves are small devices that fit into the external end of the urethral catheter. Rather than continuous drainage, urine is stored in the bladder and emptied on regular intervals by opening the valve.

This method of drainage may offer several benefits including preserving bladder capacity, function and tone, reducing catheter blockage in cases of urine bacterial colonization, and decreasing traction forces on the bladder neck by removing the downward weight of a collecting bag.(2-4) The use of a catheter valve may offer improvements in social functioning and mobility.(5) Studies to date suggest that catheter valves are well tolerated by patients, but these studies have used non-standardized questionnaires and have not assessed overall quality of life.(5, 6) Additionally, there may be an associated cost benefit to utilizing catheter valves compared to drainage bags.(5)

Further study in this area, focusing on quality of life and social functioning, will enable the clinician to better counsel patients on the risks and benefits of the various methods of urinary drainage.