catheterization

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(medicine) Insertion or use of a catheter.

The process of introducing a hollow, flexible tube into a blood vessel or body cavity to withdraw or instill fluids.

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The use of a catheter to administer drugs or extract body fluids. Catheterization is used to alter the integrity of urine so that banned substances may escape detection in dope tests of urine samples. For example, a male athlete on drugs may inject drug-free urine into his bladder via a catheter inserted into his penis. This type of physical manipulation is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited list. See also tampering.

Insertion of a catheter into the body. Common types of this procedure include cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter is inserted into the heart through a vein in the arm to diagnose heart disease, and urinary bladder catheterization, in which a catheter is inserted into the urethra to permit urine to flow out of the urinary bladder.

Passage of a catheter into a body channel or cavity. See also cardiac catheterization and central venous catheterization. The most common usage of the term is in reference to the introduction of a catheter via the urethra into the urinary bladder.

• balloon c. — see balloon valvuloplasty.