Anadolu'da Keşfedilmiş Antikçağ Dönemine Ait Üriner Kateterler

Abstract

Objectivite: Urinary catheterization using urethral catheters is a frequently performed procedure in daily urology practice. Especially in cases of urinary retention, it removes the troubles caused by the inability to urinate. The beginning of the process of drainage of full, distended and painful bladder due to inability to urinate extends to the antique age. During the Ancient Greek and Roman periods, various urinary catheters were developed for this purpose and used for urinary retention. Similar processes took place in Ancient Anatolia where ancient Greek and Roman civilizations were lived. Material and Methods: Including the site reports of the archaeological explorations and the writings of antic age physicians and writers, related literature was surveyed and also sample urinary catheters of private collections and the ones in the archaeological museums of Turkey were viewed. Results: During Anatolian archaeological excavations in ancient cities such as Allianoi, Ephesos and Kolophon, various types of surgical tools and urinary catheters belonging to the Roman period were discovered. Many ancient Anatolian physicians of Anatolia like Soranus of Ephesus and Galen of Pergamon used these catheters and described their own experiences in their daily works. Conclusions: In ancient times, it was known that urethral anatomies were different in male and female gender, and for this reason it was seen that catheters were used in different shapes and sizes for men and women.