FOLEY CATHETER INSERTION

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What is Foley’s Catheterization?

It is rubber catheter inserted into the urinary bladder for urine collection outside of the body into a bag. There are two kinds of catheter, rubber catheter and silicon catheter. The silicon catheter can be kept for long time into the bladder when needed.

Why it is done?

It is done to measure hourly urine output. It is important to measure hourly urine output when patient is in shock or in renal failure. It helps to guide the patient care.
Sometimes it is also used to monitor intraabdominal pressure.
It is also used for irrigation after TURP surgery.
It is also used to give bladder wash and sometimes antibiotics wash.

How it is done?

It is done under strict aseptic precaution by an experienced medical staff.
The procedure is done when patient is in supine position and laying on back. The private part is thoroughly cleaned with antiseptic solutions and appropriate size catheter is inserted into the bladder via urethra. Once urine come out through the catheter, balloon is inflated with water and catheter is fixed on the patient thigh to prevent dragging of the catheter during patient movement.
Catheter requires daily examination and care by the nursing staff for the discharges and leakage of urine.
It is a commonly done procedure and easy to perform in an experienced hand.

What is the risk ?

During catheter insertion it may cause trauma to urethra and results in bleeding.
Occasionally it can create false passage into the urethra, which can be an emergency. Usually it is very safe procedure in a safe hand of an expert medical staff.
This kind of complications arises mostly when there is phimosis or if the procedure is done in an emergency situation. These complications can be managed.