Urologic double-J catheters: uses and complications

ABSTRACT

Urologic disorders comprise a large number of the health problems in Saudi Arabia. In addition to the high incidence rate of urinary calculi, bilharzial uropathy is frequently encountered and considered by urologists to be difficult to manage in its late stages. Cancer, genitourinary traumas and tuberculosis are other important diseases although less frequently encountered. Internally placed urinary catheters known as double-J catheters are now widely used by urologists in the management of the above mentioned diseases. This article is presented with the intention of familiarising the general reader with those commonly used catheters, and supplying specific information on their complications and the management of these complications based on our experience with 120 patients seen at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia