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Urinary catheterization

Urinary catheterization is the procedure for releasing urine from the bladder when the normal outflow channel is blocked. Commonly (in males) by this is because of enlargement of the prostate gland.

A catheter is a tube of rubber or plastic that can be sterilized and inserted into the bladder.

In spite of high standards of sterilization in modern hospitals, about ten per cent of people who are catheterized get urinary tract infections.