Texas Condom Catheters

The Texas catheter has a design that resembles a cowboy hat. Frequently, people in the medical field refer to it as the Texas-style catheter for this reason. So, sitting on a flat surface, the unrolled sheath of the Texas catheter resembles the hat’s brim, and the white tubing stands tall like the crown of a cowboy hat. The Texas catheter’s design makes it distinguishable from other condom catheters.

Since prolonged use of a Texas catheter can lead to a urinary tract infection, you must change this external catheter every 24 hours. However, to make sure you can safely wear the Texas catheter for 24 hours, you must take extra care when applying and removing it. Make sure you wash your hands before you start either procedure. Before applying, clean your penis with soap and water, and don’t apply any lotions or creams to lube the area. Trim any hairs around the base of your penis with a pair of clippers. When you are ready to remove your Texas condom catheter, gently remove the silicone material away from the base of the penis before rolling up the sheath. In addition, if you need extra comfort, you can use an extended wear male external catheter.

Although Texas catheters and regular condom catheters perform the same function, they differ in appearance and structure. The Texas catheter is a two-piece unit with a latex or silicone sheath and a semi-hard, detachable drainage tube. Since the sheath is rollable, the Texas catheter’s design allows you to apply and remove it with all the comfort of a condom. Also, you can adjust the length of the white silicone tubing at the end of the sheath.

Regular molded condom catheters like the Wide Band brand are one-piece structures with no adjustability between the sheath and the nozzle. As a result, molded catheters are not as comfortable as Texas catheters. However, regular condom catheters have anchoring adhesive in their sheaths, while Texas catheters do not. Adhesion is necessary to hold these external catheters in place. So, Texas catheter customers must order adhesive strips separately or buy a Texas catheter kit.

A Texas catheter offers a convenient and straightforward solution for males with incontinence issues. Instead of briefs and adult diapers, men can wear Texas external catheters on their penises to manage the flow of draining urine. The tubing for this device connects it to an overnight urine collection bag or a urinary leg bag. However, Texas catheters and other external catheters do not solve urine retention because they don’t physically encourage urine flow. So, a man who can’t naturally urinate will not benefit from Texas catheter use.

Although manufacturers don’t follow a standard size guideline, external catheters have dimensions that fit almost any male. For the best results, use a soft measuring tape. Measure the width of your penis directly beneath the head. Typically, most Texas condom catheter sizes range from small (25mm) to X-large (41 mm). Some brands vary slightly. If your measurement falls between two sizes, choose the smaller size to ensure a good fit.

Along with the two main parts of the Texas catheter, adhesive strips will be necessary to hold the catheter in place. It is also smart to have antiseptic wipes to clean the area before applying the catheter thoroughly. Like any other catheters, Texas catheters are compatible with urine collection products like a Conveen active leg bag by Coloplast or a disposable bag by Bard/Rochester Medical.

There are two types of Texas catheters: latex or silicone. Latex catheters are soft and comfortable, with the flexibility that makes unrolling the sheath very easy. Alternatively, a silicone catheter is an excellent choice for people with latex allergies. Plus, silicone’s translucency lets you inspect your skin, and its airiness lessens skin irritations.