Dr. Gautam Banga
MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - UrologyPeople who require long-term urinary catheterisation may have a higher risk of bladder stones because a catheter can act as a foreign body and may be associated with urinary infections and mineral deposits. Risk reduction includes appropriate catheter care, maintaining adequate hydration when medically suitable, preventing and treating urinary infections, and regular medical follow-up. The catheter should only be changed or removed according to the treating healthcare professional's instructions.
A urinary catheter is used to drain urine from the bladder when a person cannot empty the bladder normally.
While catheters can be medically necessary, long-term catheter use is one of the factors associated with secondary bladder stone formation.
The aim is therefore not to avoid a catheter when it is medically required, but to reduce complications associated with its use.
A catheter is a foreign body within the urinary system. Over time, mineral deposits can accumulate around the catheter, particularly when there is persistent bacteriuria or urinary infection.
The European Association of Urology identifies foreign bodies and long-term catheterisation among factors associated with secondary bladder stones.
Several measures may help:
Keep the catheter and drainage system clean according to the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
Avoid unnecessary manipulation of the catheter or drainage system.
If your medical condition allows it, drinking an appropriate amount of fluid can support urine production and urinary drainage.
However, patients with conditions requiring fluid restriction should follow their doctor's recommendations.
Catheter users may develop urinary infections or persistent bacteriuria.
Symptoms such as fever, worsening urinary discomfort, blood in the urine, abdominal discomfort or other concerning changes should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Treatment should be based on appropriate clinical evaluation rather than taking antibiotics without medical advice.
If urine is not flowing normally through the catheter, the drainage system should be checked according to your catheter-care instructions.
Problems such as blockage, kinking or poor drainage should not be ignored because inadequate drainage can cause urinary complications.
People requiring long-term catheterisation may benefit from periodic assessment of their urinary condition.
If bladder stones repeatedly develop, the urologist may need to investigate whether the catheter, infection, bladder dysfunction or another underlying problem is contributing to recurrence.
Catheter changes should follow the schedule recommended for your specific catheter and medical condition.
Changing a catheter more frequently on your own is not a guaranteed method of preventing bladder stones.
The appropriate catheter type, change interval and long-term management should be decided by the treating healthcare professional.
Not everyone with a urinary catheter needs routine imaging.
The need for ultrasound or another investigation depends on symptoms, medical history, previous stone formation and other risk factors.
If you have previously developed bladder stones, recurrent infections, catheter blockage or other urinary problems, your urologist may recommend further evaluation.
Catheter users should report new or worsening urinary symptoms, particularly:
These symptoms can have several causes and do not automatically mean that a bladder stone is present.
No prevention strategy can guarantee that bladder stones will never develop.
When long-term catheterisation is medically necessary, the focus is on reducing modifiable risk factors and identifying complications early.
If stones repeatedly form, the urologist may evaluate whether there is an opportunity to change the urinary drainage strategy or address another underlying cause.
At SCI International Hospital, New Delhi, Dr. Gautam Banga evaluates patients with bladder stones and complex urinary conditions, including patients who may have recurrent stones associated with urinary obstruction, bladder dysfunction or long-term catheter use.
When bladder stones recur in a catheter-dependent patient, the evaluation can focus on identifying the contributing factor and developing an appropriate management plan rather than repeatedly treating the stone without addressing the underlying problem.
