Glossary of terms
- A tubular instrument to allow passage of fluid from or into a body cavity. It is often used to drain abscesses.
- A tube that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain it of retained urine.
- A flexible, hollow plastic or rubber tube that may be passed into a blood vessel to withdraw fluids or inject medicine or contrast materials.
An examination of blood vessels by injecting contrast material directly into an artery through a small plastic tube.
For details see the Catheter Angiography page.
A procedure in which a catheter is inserted through the skin into a vessel and directed to a blood clot in a fistula or graft of a hemodialysis patient. A medication or mechanical device delivered via the catheter is used to break up the clot and restore blood flow. See the Catheter-directed Thrombolysis page for more details.