What is the article shown in the following image?

Appeared in: DSSSB 14 August 2024

Explanation

The image displays a catheter with a distinctive winged or mushroom-shaped tip, which is the defining characteristic of a Malecot catheter.
This type of catheter is self-retaining; the wings at the distal end expand to secure it within a body cavity, such as the bladder or renal pelvis.
Malecot catheters are primarily used for temporary percutaneous drainage procedures like nephrostomy or suprapubic cystostomy.
Unlike a Foley catheter, it does not have an inflatable balloon for retention.

Option A: An infant feeding tube is a much smaller, simpler tube designed for enteral feeding and lacks the specialized self-retaining tip seen in the image.
Option B: A Foley's catheter uses an inflatable balloon for retention, which is filled with sterile water. The catheter in the image has expandable wings, not a balloon.
Option D: 'Silicon urinary catheter' describes the material of the device, not its specific type or design. While the Malecot catheter shown could be made of silicone, this is not its most precise identification.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of Medical Drainage Catheters as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Malecot catheters are commonly used for percutaneous nephrostomy to drain urine from an obstructed kidney or for suprapubic cystostomy to drain the bladder when urethral catheterization is not possible.
Nurses are responsible for monitoring the patency of the drainage tube, assessing the insertion site for signs of infection, and measuring the output.
Care includes ensuring the tube is not kinked or pulled, which could dislodge the catheter or obstruct urine flow.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully examine the image provided, paying close attention to the unique features of the medical device, especially the tip.
Identify the key characteristic: the device is a tube with a multi-winged, expandable tip designed for retention.
Next, evaluate the given options based on your observation.
Eliminate 'Infant feeding tube' as it's functionally and structurally different.
Differentiate from 'Foley's urinary catheter' by noting the absence of an inflation balloon and the presence of wings.
Recognize that 'Silicon urinary catheter' describes a material, not the specific design, making 'Malecot catheter' the most precise and correct identification based on the unique tip.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 253-255

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 598-600

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