Wednesday, June 2, 2010

C I C - Clean Intermittent Catheterization

C I C Introduction
Young children with special health needs often require medical procedures or routines that can be carried out by their parents. With time, most children - depending on developmental level - can learn to do these procedures themselves. This Center Care Bulletin will answer some of your questions about one of these procedures, clean intermittent catheterization (C I C).

What is C I C?
C I C is an abbreviation for "clean intermittent catheterization." It means:

Clean - As germ-free as possible.
Intermittent - Done on a regular schedule several times a day.
Catheterization - Using a catheter or tube to drain urine out of the bladder.
 
Why is C I C important?
Urine is produced by the kidneys. It flows from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called the ureters (see Figure 1: The urinary tract). Most people empty their bladders by going to the bathroom four or five times a day. When the bladder is not emptied, infections or other problems can occur. If the bladder is not drained, the urine may pass backward into the ureters. This condition is called reflux . Reflux can cause infection and damage to the kidneys. For many children, C I C helps prevent reflux, urinary tract infection, and toileting "accidents."
 
Learning to do C I C?
You can talk to your family doctor about C I C, or you may want to talk with a specialist called a urologist - a doctor who has special knowledge of the urinary tract. Your doctor and nurse will provide you with a demonstration of the procedure, an opportunity to do C I C with supervision, and written instructions.
 
Why should my child learn to do C I C?
We all want our children to be as independent as possible, and an important part of this is learning personal self-care. One way to help children be more self-confident is to let them be responsible for as much of their own care - including C I C - as possible.
 
What is the best age for my child to learn self-catheterization?
Parents usually do C I C for their child until the child is about five years old. As the child
becomes developmentally ready, he or she can be encouraged to participate in parts of the procedure, such as washing hands or organizing C I C equipment.

A child is often able to carry out his or her own C I C at the age of seven or eight years. At this age, the child may be a little more self-conscious about wetting "accidents," and thus more motivated to learn. You, your child, and your doctor can decide the best time for your child to learn C I C.

How can I tell if my child is ready to learn C I C?
A child is ready to do his or her own C I C when he or she:


• Has a mental age of 5 years


• Has the necessary coordination (fine motor skills); for example, can pick up a soda straw and place it on a tray at a specified location


• Wants to learn C I C


• Has the encouragement and support of parents and other adults

How often will my child need to do C I C? \
Most doctors recommend 4 to 6 times per 24-hour day, with no longer than 8 hours between catheterizations at night.

Can my child do C I C at school?
Yes. Your doctor will write a letter to the school. The letter will outline your child's catheterization program and ask the school nurse or health aide to help your child with C I C. You and your child should demonstrate the specific C I C methods you prefer to use to your child's school nurse or health aide.

How will the school nurse help my child with C I C?
The school nurse or health aide will:


• Get supplies ready


• Help your child with the C I C process


• Check your child's progress


• Watch for any problems

Will it cause concern if my child needs to be out of the classroom several times a day for C I C?
As you plan your child's C I C schedule, talk with your child, the teachers, the school nurse, and your doctor. Careful scheduling, using lunch hours, recess, class breaks, and study halls, can minimize disruption of the school day.

Is there a chance my child might experience an allergic reaction as the result of C I C?
Children with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, are at risk to develop an allergy to latex. So are children with urological abnormalities. These children may become allergic to the latex in certain products used with C I C. For this reason, we recommend the use of latex-free products.

How can I tell if my child has a latex allergy?
A child who is allergic to latex may have certain symptoms after using a product containing latex. These symptoms may include:


• Itchy, runny nose


• Itchy, watery eyes


• Skin rash with red, itchy bumps


• Swelling of lips, tongue, eyelids


• Breathing problems

How serious is a latex allergy?
Latex allergy can be very serious. It can cause anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

Can I do anything to keep my child from becoming allergic to latex?
Yes, you can, by not exposing your child to latex. Children who are at risk for latex allergy should avoid products that contain latex. This is true even if a child does not currently have allergic symptoms due to latex exposure.

How can I learn whether my child is allergic to latex?
You can ask your doctor whether your child should be tested for latex allergy. The allergy test is done using a blood test called a RAST, or a skin test.

What should I do if my child has a latex allergy?
Your child will need to avoid products containing latex.

Talk with your health care providers, including your physician and your dentist. They should not use products that contain latex when they care for your child.

Your child should use only latex-free products. Your physician can write a prescription for latex-free catheters, syringes, and gloves to use during C I C and other routines. You can order these through your local pharmacy or medical supply source.

It would be a good idea for your child to wear a medic alert bracelet indicating this allergy.

What other precautions should I take?
You will also need to tell your child's other caregivers. It is very important that they know, so that they can avoid using latex products with your child. Some caregivers you should talk with include:


• Babysitters


• Daycare staff


• Teachers, teacher's aides, and coaches


• School nurse


• Grandparents and other family members


• Your child's friends, and their parents


• Summer camp staff

About Complete Care Medical, Inc.
We are one of the fastest growing fully accredited national catheter suppliers in the United States. We are dedicated to putting Patients first in everything we do, and providing them with convenience, choice and control.

Need a catheter? What size? What brand? What type? WE HAVE IT!
For more about us please visit http://www.ccmedicalinc.com/, or call us Toll Free at 1-800-503-7604!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Clean Intermittent Catheter Usage

What are the steps for clean intermittent catheterization for girls and boys?
If your child cannot empty his or her bladder completely, or has a problem with urine leakage, your child may need to start a catheterization program. These problems are commonly seen in children with spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, or some urinary tract defects.

The following information explains the steps for CIC. This should not take the place of one-to-one teaching. If your child needs CIC, contact your pediatrician, doctor, or nurse practitioner for more information.

CIC For Girls
- First wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them. You also can use a waterless cleaner, such as an antibacterial cleanser that does not require water.

- Next have your box of supplies within easy reach.

- Place your daughter on her back or position her on the toilet or in her wheelchair. You should practice CIC in the position you will be using most often. If she is on the toilet, separate her legs widely enough to be able to clearly see her urethra. If she is doing her catheterizations herself, she will practice identifying her urethra by touch. When your daughter is learning to catheterize herself, she can use a mirror to see where her urethra is located.

- Clean your daughter's genitalia with a washcloth or disposable wipe.

- Separate the labia and wipe thoroughly from front to back.

- Place a generous amount of the water-soluble lubricant on the end of the catheter with the holes.

- Place the other end of the catheter into a container or let it drain into the toilet.

- Find your daughter's urethra. Gently insert the lubricated end of the catheter into the urethra about 2 to 3 inches. It may become slightly more difficult to insert just prior to entering the bladder. That is because a muscle called the sphincter sits at the opening of the bladder and is naturally tightly contracted. The sphincter will relax as you continue to gently insert the catheter until you reach the bladder and see urine flow.

- Once the catheter is in the bladder, hold it there until the urine flow stops. Then move the catheter slightly, or insert it a little more, to see if the flow continues. Gently press on your daughter's lower abdomen with your hand or ask your daughter to lean forward to be certain there is no more urine in the bladder.

- Slowly remove the catheter, holding your finger at the tip or pinching the catheter end before removing the final portion. Pull catheter out in a downward movement to prevent backflow of urine.

- Wash your hands. Clean and store your catheter as directed.

CIC For Boys
- First wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them. You also can use a waterless cleaner, such as an antibacterial cleanser that does not require water.

- Next have your box of supplies within easy reach.

- Place your son on his back or, if it is easier for both of you, have him sit on the toilet or in his wheelchair. If he is doing his own catheterization, he may stand or sit on the toilet or in his wheelchair.

- Clean the tip of his penis with a washcloth or disposable wipes in a circular motion starting at the center and working outward. If your son is uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin so that the tip of his penis is visible before cleansing.

- Place a generous amount of the water-soluble lubricant on the end of the catheter with the holes.

- Place the other end of the catheter into a container or let it drain into the toilet.

- Hold your son's penis upright. Gently insert the lubricated end of the catheter into the urethra about 4 to 6 inches until urine begins to flow. You may need to lower the penis as you continue to insert the catheter. It may become more difficult to advance the catheter as you get closer to the bladder. Do not worry, this is normal. Continue to gently insert the catheter with steady pressure until you feel the catheter slip into the bladder. Once urine flow begins, insert the catheter about an inch farther to allow the urine to flow better.

- Hold the catheter in place until the urine flow stops. You may gently press on your son's lower abdomen or ask him to squeeze his abdominal muscles or lean forward to be sure the bladder is empty.

- Remove the catheter once the urine flow stops completely. Hold your finger over the end of the catheter while removing it. This will prevent any urine in the tube from dripping out.

- If your son is uncircumcised, gently replace the foreskin over the end of his penis by pushing it forward.

- Wash your hands. Clean and store your catheter as directed.

Supplies Needed
It is best to have all of your supplies organized and ready when you need them. Keep the following items in a clean, dry container such as a plastic shoe box or cosmetic case.

- Catheters. Your doctor will give you a prescription for the appropriate sterile, single-use catheter size for your child.

- Disposable wipes or a washcloth. Your child's genitalia will need to be cleaned before CIC.

- Lubricant. Use only a water-soluble lubricant. Do not use oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly because they do not dissolve in water.

- Container. You may need a container to drain the urine into if you are not doing the catheterizations on the toilet, or if you need to keep a record of how much your child drains.

About Complete Care Medical, Inc.
We are one of the fastest growing fully accredited national catheter suppliers in the United States. We are dedicated to putting Patients first in everything we do, and providing them with convenience, choice and control.

Need a catheter? What size? What brand? What type? WE HAVE IT! For more about us please visit www.ccmedicalinc.com, or call us Toll Free at 1-800-503-7604!

ROCHESTER MEDICAL UNVEILS "MAGIC" INTERMITTENT CATHETERS

Rochester Medical Corporation (NASDAQ:ROCM), Stewartville, Minn., has announced the introduction of Magic3(TM), its new line of intermittent urinary catheters.

Featuring advanced and proprietary m3 technology, Magic3 catheters are the first intermittent catheters created and crafted from a composition of three distinct functional layers. Each of the three all- silicone laminates is uniquely formulated to independently address a particular product attribute required for comfortable, easy, and reliable intermittent catheterization. This means no trade-offs or compromises for the people that depend on intermittent catheters to help them live a healthy, active life.

Commenting on the new Magic3 catheter, Rochester Medical's CEO and president Anthony J. Conway said, "This is a great new product family. The design and construction of an intermittent catheter can fundamentally impact the user's quality of life. Manufacturers have done their best to address issues of comfort and convenience, but until the invention of Magic3 choosing among various products has involved difficult trade-offs.

"Traditional single-layer catheters that are rigid enough for ease of handling can be painful to use and can damage sensitive urethral tissue. Those that are softer and less likely to abrade tissue can be difficult to handle. Also, some catheters are subject to kinks that can impede drainage flow. We believe no single-layer design has been able to fully address each of these critical issues."

Magic3 intermittent catheters leverage Rochester Medical's patent-pending m3 technology to deliver the benefits of a three-layer, all-silicone design. The catheter's special outer layer of nano-smooth soft silicone provides for an unparalleled hydrophilic lubricious surface which reduces trauma, and maximizes patient comfort. The proprietary middle layer of firmer silicone supports confident handling for quick, simple catheter insertion. The innermost layer is designed to resist kinking and leverage the intrinsic hydrophobic (water-repelling) characteristics of silicone to enhance urine flow through the catheter.

Further demonstrating the company's enthusiasm for providing patient friendly, environmentally sound solutions, Rochester Medical has incorporated additional important design enhancements. A streamlined, discreet package with finger holes to assist in opening, along with a new self contained and easy to open water packet make the new Magic3 more user friendly. Environmental improvements include a 25% smaller catheter package, a 70 % smaller water packet, and a box that is 20% more compact.

"The technology and timing of our Magic3 introduction offers a unique opportunity for the company and our customers," commented Jim Carper, Rochester Medical's vice president of Marketing. "Reimbursement changes have heightened the attention being given to best intermittent catheter practices for each user. The assessments being made every day by clinicians, patients, and distributors now include a brand new choice for uncompromised excellence in catheter performance."

Kicking-off a comprehensive marketing campaign, Rochester Medical has begun rolling out the Magic3 intermittent catheter line in the U.S. with introductions to its distribution partners and targeted clinical call points. The marketing campaign will encompass clinicians as well as catheter users. It will include print and web advertising along with participation in national exhibitions, specialty conferences, and regional consumer events.

Concurrently, the new technology is being introduced by Rochester Medical Ltd. in the United Kingdom and Europe where a similar comprehensive marketing campaign is being launched.

For two decades, Rochester Medical Corporation has been developing, manufacturing and marketing latex-free, disposable medical devices and catheters for urological and continence care applications. The all-silicone Magic3 intermittent catheter line is the latest example of the company's commitment to providing innovative solutions to address the needs of patients, caregivers, and clinicians.

Magic3 intermittent catheters are available in male (16"), female (6"), and pediatric (10") lengths and in diameters ranging from 6Fr to 20Fr. The product line also incorporates all of Rochester Medical's coating options and package configurations, including the advanced antibacterial and antibacterial hydrophilic technologies. Most state Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies will cover these advanced catheters; local product suppliers can provide details about specific payor sources. Additional product and ordering information is available by contacting Complete Care Medical, Inc. at 1-800-503-7604 or info@ccmedicalinc.com.

About Complete Care Medical, Inc.
We are one of the fastest growing fully accredited national catheter suppliers in the United States. We are dedicated to putting Patients first in everything we do, and providing them with convenience, choice and control.

Need a catheter? What size? What brand? What type? WE HAVE IT! For more about us please visit http://www.ccmedicalinc.com/, or call us at 1-800-503-7604!