Bacteria are naturally present in urine. When you urinate normally, you flush out these bacteria before they become too numerous and could cause a urinary tract infection. For people who practice intermittent urinary catheterization (also called self-catheterization if you do it alone, or heterocatheterization if the manipulation is carried out by a third person – a caregiver, healthcare worker for example), it is essential to regularly flush out these bacteria and completely empty your bladder, in particular by repositioning the catheter. By preventing bacteria from settling, catheterization limits the risks of urinary tract infections.
Do you know what are the 3 indicators of a urinary tract infection that show that the bladder is colonized and that you should consult? The presence of symptoms, such as burning sensations in the lower abdomen, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, blood in the urine or fever, bacteria and leukocytes on the urine culture (cytobacteriological examination of the urine).
So drink enough, avoid incomplete emptying of the bladder and empty it regularly – as often as your doctor recommends, make sure to maintain good personal hygiene, fight against constipation, make regular visits to your specialist and finally, if in doubt, definitely do not self-medicate!
Furthermore, 45% of people who practice intermittent urinary catheterization consider urinary tract infections to be their greatest concern, with an average of 2 to 3 per year ⁽¹⁾. And many people need to reposition their catheter during catheterization to completely empty their bladder…
Luja and Micro-Hole Zone technology
For them, and after 6 years of research, Coloplast launched Luja™: an innovative urinary catheter that is changing the standards.
Its particularity? The Micro-hole Zone Technology, or Micro-Hole Technology Zonecharacterized by the presence of more than 80 micro-perforations, spread over a length of 6cm. An innovative and unique design that allows the bladder to be emptied all the way to the bottom, without interrupting the flow of urine ⁽²⁾ or having to reposition the catheter. The flow of urine only stops when the bladder is completely emptied!
Thanks to this innovation, the risks of urinary tract infection are reduced: urine residue is minimized⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ as are micro-traumas to the bladder ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾.
© COLOPLAST
Luja male urinary catheter: technical expertise for comfort
Designed to promise maximum convenience and ease of use, Luja™ features an olivary and flexible tip that follows the curves of the urethra and ensures easy passage of the sphincters and prostate.
In addition, this new Luja probe for men comes in a dry and hermetic sheath, for hygienic and controlled insertion that avoids bacterial contamination and allows the integrity of the lubrication to be preserved. This lubrication, guaranteed by Triple Action™ technology, remains attached to the body of the probe during insertion and removal for maximum comfort. The key is a minimal friction force ⁽⁴⁾ and a homogeneous glide.
Minimized risks of urinary tract infection ⁽²⁾, complete emptying of the bladder in a single continuous flow⁽²⁾ and without repositioning ⁽⁵⁾, simple handling and easy and gentle insertion regardless of anatomy ⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾ : With Luja™ and its +80 micro-perforations, Coloplast introduces a new standard in the world of urinary catheters, to continue to improve the quality of life of patients!
Want to try it? Request a sample!
© COLOPLAST
Intermittent catheterization, with Luja™ step by step:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water and gently clean the area around the urinary meatus. Open the package and remove the catheter.
2. Open the probe by unscrewing the handle. Be sure to hold both ends of the probe upwards to avoid spilling the water inside the sheath. Drain the water through the end of the probe into the toilet or sink before probing.
3. To facilitate insertion, lift the penis with your non-dominant hand. Gently insert the tip of the catheter into the urinary meatus with your dominant hand.
4. Once the tip is inserted, hold the penis and the gray handle in the same hand. Use the other hand to insert the probe. You control the insertion by sliding the sheath forward. The gray handle allows you to hold the probe in position during manipulation.
5. Continue inserting the catheter until urine begins to flow, or even a little further. As soon as urine begins to flow slowly, drop by drop, remove the catheter.
6. You can close the probe by screwing the two ends back on, to make it easier to transport and dispose of properly. Then put the probe back in its packaging and use the label on the back to close it.
Sources
¹ 1. Coloplast, IC user survey, 2016, Data on file (PM-06287), N=2942.
² Landauro MH, Jacobsen L, Tentor F et al. New Intermittent Urinary Micro-Hole Zone Catheter Shows Enhanced Performance in Emptying the Bladder: A Randomised, Controlled Crossover Study. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 5266. Randomised clinical trial of Luja Homme catheters in 42 men undergoing intermittent self-catheterisation. Primary endpoint: Urine residue at first flow stoppage & number of flow stops during catheterisation. Outcomes: Complete bladder emptying (
³ M. Kennelly, N. Thiruchelvam, M. A. Averbeck, E. Chartier Kastler et al. Adult neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction and intermittent catheterisation in a community setting: risk factors model for urinary tract infections. Adv Urol. 2019 Apr 2;2019:2757862.
⁴Stensballe J et al. Eur Urol. 2005 Dec; 48(6): 978-83. Randomized, crossover, single-blind study with SpeediCath in 40 healthy male volunteers. Primary endpoint: Urethral friction (Newton) measured by an automated procedure. Results: Minimal friction with SpeediCath (0.14N±0.003). Luja catheters benefit from the same lubricant as SpeediCath catheters.
⁵In accordance with the instructions for use.
⁶ EAUN March 2006. Good Care Practices “urethral catheterization”. Section 2, Intermittent catheterization.
⁷ SpeediCath Flex evaluation study, Poster presented at the ISCoS (International Spinal Cord Society) congress, Oct 2017, Dublin, P248., Prospective “before and after” study in 2 parts, Part 2: Primary endpoint: evaluation of the success of insertion of SpeediCath Flex catheters from the first attempt in difficult anatomies. Participants: 95 men practicing self-catheterization with bent catheters (Tiemann), mainly for large prostate (36%), urethral stricture (26%) or aspiration (12%). Results: 86% of them successfully catheterized with SpeediCath Flex from the first attempt. And of the 87 patients who used it for a week, 62% rated the navigation of the catheter in the urethra as Easy/Very Easy and 71% rated it as “smooth to insert”. Study carried out on the SpeediCath Flex probe which has the same “flex tip” as the Luja probes. 7.
