What is a crucial step when using a coude catheter?

When using a coude catheter, verifying the bend or curve of the tip is a crucial step because this type of catheter is designed for easier navigation through any obstructions or strictures in the urethra. The curved tip helps to guide the catheter around anatomical variations and blockages, making it essential for healthcare providers to ensure the curve matches the intended path for insertion. This attention to the curvature significantly enhances the effectiveness of the catheterization process and minimizes discomfort or injury to the patient.

Other aspects of catheterization, such as ensuring the catheter is straight, keeping it lubricated, and using it without supervision, do not directly address the specific adaptations that make the coude catheter unique and beneficial for patients with particular anatomical challenges. Therefore, focusing on the proper verification of the bend or curve maximizes patient safety and procedural success.