US Medical Term · emergency
Urinary Catheter
Catéter urinario
Also: Sonda urinaria (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Urinary Catheter |
| Spanish (Español) | Catéter urinario |
| Chinese (中文) | 導尿管 |
| Korean (한국어) | 요도 카테터 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ống thông tiểu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Urinary catheter |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cateter urinário |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | สายสวนปัสสาวะ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 尿道カテーテル |
What it means
A urinary catheter is a thin, flexible tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine. In hospitals, it is most commonly a Foley catheter, which stays in place held by a small balloon inside the bladder. Catheters are used when patients cannot urinate on their own due to surgery, illness, paralysis, or certain procedures. They are also used to accurately measure urine output in critically ill patients. Catheters carry a risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), so hospitals try to remove them as soon as safely possible. Tell your nurse if you experience burning, leakage, or pain around the catheter site.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My father has a urinary catheter because he cannot get up to use the bathroom.
Mi padre tiene una sonda urinaria porque no puede levantarse para ir al baño.
How long does the urinary catheter need to stay in?
¿Por cuánto tiempo necesita quedarse la sonda urinaria?
The catheter is uncomfortable; is that normal?
La sonda es incómoda; ¿es eso normal?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026