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Foley Catheter - About:
A Foley catheter is a sterile tube that is thin enough to be inserted into the bladder to help facilitate the draining of urine. Also called an indwelling catheter and available as a male catheter or female catheter, it is designed to be left in your bladder for an extended period of time and is held in place by a balloon filled with sterile water at the end. The urine drains into a catheter bag, which can then be tested in a laboratory for kidney function, electrolytes, muscle breakdown, crystals, blood and infection.
A Foley catheter is used with various problems, procedures and disorders such as:
- After surgery.
- Sterile urine collection.
- Bladder dysfunction related to nerve damage from spinal trauma.
- Urine output monitoring in an injured or critically ill patient.
- Prostate cancer, prostate hypertrophy or the narrowing of the urethra, all of which are obstructions of the urethra that complicate the urinary process.
- Urinary retention leading to sensation of incomplete emptying, straining to urinate, interruption of urinary stream, decrease in force and size of urinary stream and urinary hesitancy.
Here are some risks of using a Foley catheter:
- There is a possibility of the balloon breaking when the catheter is being inserted. If this happens, the doctor will have to carefully remove all of the balloon fragments.
- Urine flow may be blocked upon introduction of the Foley catheter. The doctor will then have to change the Foley catheter, the catheter bag or both.
- Bleeding in the urethra may occur. The doctor will have to monitor the bleeding so complications don't occur.
- If the Foley catheter is not completely inserted into the bladder and the balloon opens up, damage, bleeding and even rupture of the urethra can occur.
It is important to maintain Foley catheter care when an existing catheter is in place. If you are in the hospital, a nurse will likely do Foley catheter care once a shift. If you are able, you can also maintain your catheter care with your morning bath and in between, if necessary. If you are at home, all of the responsibility for Foley catheter care will be on your shoulders, or a person who is your caregiver.
Anyone performing Foley catheter care must adhere to these guidelines:
You must wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after giving catheter care. Clean the area around the catheter at least once a day and after each bowel movement. All you need to do is wash the area with a mild soap and water. Be sure to dry the area well to prevent microorganisms from growing around the catheter.
Be sure to keep the urine bag below the level of your bladder. This will prevent a back flow of urine from contaminating the bladder. While the urine is in the bladder, it is considered sterile, but when it leaves the bladder it is considered contaminated. It is important that you have good air flow in the area of the catheter site; therefore, it is important to only wear cotton underwear. Anything other than cotton underwear can restrict the flow of air and possibly cause bacterial growth if it gets too warm in the genital area.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water or some other healthy liquid a day to stay well hydrated. Be sure to limit caffeine, because it can cause dehydration and concentrate the urine. Take notice of your catheter tubing. Don’t let it kink up, because that can restrict urine flow into the bag. Be sure not to tug on your catheter tubing, because it can cause trauma to the opening of the bladder and the urinary urethra and meatus.
Click links below for more information on: Types of Catheters
Catheter Bag Care
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Catheter Care
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Catheter Insertion
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Catheter Supply Care
Female Catheter Information: Types of Female Catheters
Female Catheter Care
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Female Catheter Insertion
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Female Urinary Catheter
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Female UTI
Foley Catheter Information: Foley Catheter Types
Foley Catheters
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Foley Catheter Care
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Foley Catheter Insertion
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Foley Catheter Removal
Male Catheter Information: Types of Male Catheters
GeeWhiz Male External Catheter
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Male Catheter Insertion
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Male Urinary Tract Infections
Additional Catheter Information: Catheter Types
Catheter Insertion
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Catheter Pain
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Intermittent Catheterization
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Why have a Catheter Supply Care Plan?
Incontinence Solution :
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GeeWhiz Male External Catheter
If you’d like more information about Liberator Medical’s Catheter Supply Care Program, call us toll-free today at 1-866-642-6840.
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