What Does a Catheterization Tray Contain

Not many individuals can go through life without the assistance of a medical professional. Unfortunately, the trauma happens to get magnified when the patient is a helpless infant who remain in the NICU. While there are a number of equipment and procedures adopted to make the underweight and re term infant capable of dealing with life, the neonate may also need the able services of a nephrologist for attending to the urinary problems that besiege the child. A catheterization tray is almost always employed during the process of catheterization though wherein a small and pliant soft tube is introduced into the bladder. The tube can be removed after minutes or retained there permanently in accordance with the complaint.


The kit usually contains all items required for insertion of the catheter including an option for selecting the tube. A tray along with examination gloves, an underpad, fenestrated drapes, a selection of syringes, swabs and a drainage bag is found within the kit that proves to be of extreme importance while trying to insert a catheter into the bladder a young child.


Many individuals especially the parents fail to understand why such a young child must be subjected to an invasive procedure. However, the medical professionals have no other options when the new born child does not produce urine or has an abysmally low amount of urine production. This is likely to happen when the baby:-



  • Is diagnosed with low blood pressure

  • Does not have a properly developed urinary system

  • Is on medication that paralyzes certain muscles temporarily


The urine output is usually measured by the care givers once the catheter is in place. This enables the professionals to assess the amount of fluid required by the neonate. However, catheterization can also be done for diagnosing infections and ailments affecting the kidney or bladder. The catheter used for diagnosis is not retained inside though. It is removed immediately with the contents being tested for pathogens.


The entire process needs to be done by a trained nurse or a care giver with years of experience in insertion of all types of catheters including umbilical vein catheters which are usually employed for new born babies. Precision and ensuring that the device is inserted securely without hurting the tiny and frail individual is of paramount importance though! The best way to make sure that the baby suffers no ill effects would be to use a quality tray including a multiple procedure one. The special trays labeled for neonatal use are most preferred during the procedure as it is sure to contain intensely tiny micro forceps that can hold and dilate the umbilical vein most carefully.


A young baby needs a number of other equipment as well especially aids for fulfilling their nutritional needs. While a new born baby is likely to be breast fed, there are instances when the baby needs feeding syringes for obtaining the required nutrition via breast milk that has been pumped and transferred to a syringe.