A fluid drainage catheter comprises a catheter tube having a proximal and a distal end and a cylindrical wall with a lumen extending generally from the proximal to the distal end to permit the passage of fluid therethrough. The catheter tube is formed such that the proximal end has a closed tip for insertion of the catheter tube into a body cavity and the distal end has an opening for the drainage of from the body cavity through the lumen of the catheter tube. The cylindrical wall has an outer surface with at least one defined external flow path extending generally in a longitudinal direction from a point in proximity to the closed tip to a point distally thereof. With this arrangement, at least one drainage eye is associated with the defined external flow path and extends completely through the catheter tube from the outer surface to the lumen to permit fluid in the flow path to pass through the drainage eye into the lumen.