In everyday language, the colloquial oral or written transmission of information may lead to the appearance and perpetuation of mistaken concepts which are later taken to be true due to their frequent use, and medical jargon is not exempt from this type of errors.

This is the case of the repeated use of the term "Cystoflo" to identify and name a frequently used medical device which is useful for collecting urine through bladder probes or catheters. In reality, this word is the commercial name or registered trademark which the manufacturer chose for his product, and perhaps due to its being one of the first available in its class worldwide and countrywide, it was mistakenly taken to be the specific name of the device, turning it into a metonymy. This error has worsened over time, using phonetic deformations such as "Cistoflo", "Cystoflow" or "Cistoflow" none of which exist.

The fact is that the medical-surgical element we are referring to is a device for comfortably collecting urine emptied through a closed drainage system, and the brand to which we refer is only one of many available on the market. For example, in Colombia, the food and drug regulating agency - Invima - currently licenses several manufacturers of this input, who have given it different names, including:

• Uro-Set urine drainage bag, by Laboratorios Gotha-plast Ltda.

• Cystoflo urinary drainage system by Laboratorios Baxter S.A.

• Biolife urine drainage bag by Bioplast S.A.S.

• Luxury urinary drainage bag by Industrias Cardio-med S.A.S.

• Urine bag single use by Alfa Trading S.A.S.

• Advantage urine drainage bag by Mecavid Ortopé dicos S.A.S.

• Pull-push type urine drainage bag by Norstray Nuart S.A.S.

As can be seen, the common denominator in these names is urine drainage from its natural cavity.

Drainage: (In French, drainage derived from the English drain, 'to remove fluid'; documented in English since 1652) [English: drainage]:

1. 1. noun Action or effect of draining or emptying.
2. 2. noun Device used in this procedure. It may be open or closed, depending on whether its distal end is or is not in contact with the atmosphere.

Just as Decree 2200 of 2005 requires the use of the common international name (generic name) in the prescription of medications, avoiding the use of the brand name, likewise it is suggested that the common names of medical devices be used, or at least the brand name of the device which is actually being used. In this case, the system or equipment used for this type of drainage could be better described as a urine bag, collector, container or reservoir.

Sources:

Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos, Invima; 2022. Sistema de trámites en linea, disponible en:http://consultaregistro.invima.gov.co/

Real Academia Nacional de Medicina. Diccionario de Términos Médicos.Editorial Médica Panamericana. 2012

Decreto 2200 de 2005 "Por el cual se reglamenta el servicio farmacéutico y se dictan otras disposiciones". República de Colombia. Ministerio de la Protección Social.

Author notes

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