Historical Use of the Catheter
A catheter is a tube currently made of silicone, Teflon, or latex, which can be inserted into the body to allow for the passage of fluids or the administration of medical devices. This process may be used to allow urine drainage from the bladder. This is called urinary catheterization. It may be used to drain fluid which has collected in abdominal abscesses. A catheter may also be used to administer intravenous fluids or medication.
For the past three millennia, different forms of the catheter have been used for a variety of medical conditions. It is believed that ancient Egyptians used catheters made of metal pipes to perform urinary catheterization. Syrians once used reeds to make catheters. Many of these catheters were used to study cadavers, in particular to learn about cardiac valve function. The ancient Greeks used metal to form a hollow tube to be used as a catheter. (more…)