What type of device is typically connected to a urinary catheter?

A urinary-drainage unit is specifically designed to collect and store urine that is drained from the bladder through a urinary catheter. This device is essential for patients who may be unable to urinate on their own due to various medical conditions, surgeries, or while recovering from anesthesia. The urinary-drainage unit usually consists of a collection bag and a system of tubing that allows urine to flow from the catheter into the bag without causing contamination or backflow.

While intravenous (IV) drips, blood pressure monitors, and heart rate monitors each play vital roles in patient care, they do not serve the function of collecting or managing urine output. IV drips are used for the administration of fluids and medications directly into the bloodstream, blood pressure monitors assess cardiovascular health, and heart rate monitors track the number of heartbeats per minute. Each of these devices serves a different purpose in patient monitoring and treatment, making them unsuitable companions to a urinary catheter in the context of urinary drainage.