A fluid drainage catheter (10) comprises a catheter tube (12) having aproximal (14) and a distal end (16) and acylindrical wall (18) with a lumen (24) extending generally from the proximalto the distal end to permit the passage of fluidtherethrough. The catheter tube is formed such that the proximal end has aclosed tip for insertion of the catheter tube into a bodycavity and the distal end has an opening for the drainage of from the bodycavity through the lumen of the catheter tube. Thecylindrical wall has an outer surface with at least one defined external flowpath (26) extending generally in a longitudinal directionfrom a point in proximity to the closed tip to a point distally thereof. Withthis arrangement, at least one drainage eye (28) isassociated with the defined external flow path and extends completely throughthe catheter tube from the outer surface to the lumento permit fluid in the flow path to pass through the drainage eye into thelumen.
