Insertion of the UCD® (Urethral Catheterisation Device) is a specialist catheterisation technique performed in male patients with acute or imminent urinary retention and known or suspected difficult urethral access. The procedure is carried out in an outpatient treatment room under sterile conditions using local anaesthetic gel (e.g. Instillagel®).
The UCD® is a silicone Foley catheter with an integrated guidewire that enables safe catheter placement when standard urethral catheterisation has failed or is considered high-risk. It is typically indicated in elderly men with prostate enlargement, urethral strictures, or following previous false passage.
This technique helps avoid escalation to flexible cystoscopy, suprapubic catheterisation, or emergency theatre, while preserving patient safety and comfort.
A follow-up clinic appointment is arranged to assess the underlying cause of urinary retention or voiding difficulty. This includes appropriate investigations and a Trial Without Catheter (TWOC), followed by ongoing urological treatment as needed.
