Texas catheter help

[AmericanChai]

I did a search before I started this thread . . I'm a student and had to put one of these on a pt today. In class we saw a video where you put an adhesive strip around the body part in a spiral pattern and then apply the catheter. Today in hospital I was given a packet that looked like an alcohol prep and had an adhesive substance on it. I was to rub it on the skin, then wait for it to dry and then apply the catheter so that it would stick to the adhesive. This pt did not have much tissue to work with if you know what I mean, and it was very very difficult to make a secure fit. The cath had a green hard plastic ring around it that I was supposed to use to help extend the catheter upwards but it was useless, and actually went over the edge of the rolled up part, and onto the patient's skin and might have pinched him. The end of the catheter was also made of a harder type of plastic-- not like the traditional kind I saw in class that look like a regular condom but with the tube on the end. I asked the RN for help and she also had a hard time and the pt was uncomfortable and embarrassed as we struggled with this. The way it looked, it probably would just fall off again soon. I want to prevent this in the future. The RN said they are not that common. Maybe this pt was just not shaped right, I dunno much about that kind of thing. Another pt was using one last week but was able to apply it himself and seemed to be okay with using them. I really just want to know if there are any tips to applying these more smoothly next time. Are some people just not able to wear these? Thanks!

ETA: I found the kind they were using at the hospital today

http://www.healthproductsforyou.com/products/ExternalCondom-Catheters/162A/Coloplast-Ultra-Secure-Self-Sealing-Male-External-Catheter.html

Should be studying for my pharm exam . . not posting so much on this board.

[BreeLPN2RN]

NOODLE?? hahahaha

[AmericanChai]

as a guy, if a male patient is laying down/sitting a lot some of their noodle can basically sink into the body a bit and the noodle is stretchable, so i just pull it outwards (u aren't gonna break the noodle), usually get enough to work with and as it sinks back in, it can form a very good seal. sometimes, u just have to use a ped size though, if available.

Thanks for the personal insight. :) I was afraid to hurt him so I was not pulling so hard. The other nurse was more no-nonsense about getting it on. And yes he was lying supine and he was a somewhat heavy person, though not obese.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

the simple answer to this is get the right size and get the measuring devices , all the reps for the various brands we use ( unit is a heavy user because of our patient group) seem to be very happy to supply measures etc ( the upshot being they hope the patient will choose their product long term)

[SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN]

I had to read this thread to find out what you were talking about.lol

I am in Canada and I had never heard the term before. We call them condom catheters and ours don't look like the one pictured in this thread. Ours just look like catheter tubing with a condom on the end and we just roll them on like a condom. One poster mentioned using Cavillon No Sting barrier Spray, it does work well in this case. Great stuff and doesn't irritate.

I live in Texas and I have never heard of them being called "Texas" catheters either. We call them condom catheters at the hospital I work. The ones we stock sound more like the one you described. Is "Texas" catheter just that particular style of condom catheter I wonder?

[AmericanChai]

In our textbooks and labs it's called condom cath, but on the pt. chart it said texas cath and that's what the nurses were calling it too. So I have no idea where that term came from. I wish I had looked at the package to see if that's just that particular brand or if it's a generic term.