Foley Catheter Placement
A Foley catheter is a commonly used hospital equipment known as “a sterile tube inserted into the bladder for draining urine.” At the top of the catheter is a balloon usually filled with a liquid substance that creates a balance between the bladder and the catheter (“Foley Catheter Placement and Care – What You Need to Know,” 2020). Therefore, catheter placement has various indications and contraindications that might be the same or differ in both males and females.
Indications and contraindications for Foley Catheter placement
It is recommended for people who need a rapid of immediate decompression for the bladder. Next, when there is a prolapse or obstruction in the pelvic organs. Also, during an irreversible medical situation such as abdominal hernia, and when a person is experiencing enlargement of the prostate gland (Newman, 2013). In extreme cases, when a person is undergoing a long period of surgery, the doctors will insert them into a catheter. Some contraindications state that anti-incontinence products should not be considered all the time for bladder complication management. Instead, other devices such as pads and other absorbent products can be uses, but those who maintain the loss of urine while in turn, maintain the skin of the affected areas (Gill, 2018).
In females, the catheter is placed differently than in men since the urethra is shorter in women as compared to men, which is located at the pelvis and the top of the vagina. During catheter placement, the patient is laid down on her back. The buttocks are moved towards the edge of the table used for examination (Thangavelu-Veluswamy, 2020). The doctor will then obtain a position which adequately exposes the urethra, by elevating the patient’s legs and offer them support by putting them in a frog-legged posture. The labia will then be exposed while separated from the urethra facilitation easy insertion of the catheter.
For men, their urethra is quite long as compared to women. Therefore, a male patient is also placed in a lying position on his back. The legs are then put likewise to women in a frog-legged position (Thangavelu-Veluswamy, 2020). If the patient has a foreskin, the doctor retracts it to a full limit, then insert the catheter.
Before catheter insertion, all the areas of the urethra and surrounding area carefully cleaned with an antiseptic solution, and cleaning is done in circular motions. The catheter s then lubricated with a water-soluble jelly, then inserted to the urethra carefully (Thangavelu-Veluswamy, 2020). It’s followed by inflation of the balloon with sterile water with a syringe. When the bladder has urine, it flows back. The whole process should not be painful.
Complications of Foley catheter placement.
During placement of the catheter, complications might result in causing secondary problems and irritation. They include a pink or slightly red color in urine, which indicates the urethra is bleeding. When symptoms do not go away within a short period, then something is a mess (Thangavelu-Veluswamy, 2020). Infection complications are also present when placement is not done rightfully or when the dos and don’ts are not maintained. They include frequently urinating, increasing pain in the lower abdomen and fever, and smelly discharge.
References.
Foley Catheter Placement and Care – What You Need to Know. Drugs.com. (2020). Retrieved 21 April 2020, from https://www.drugs.com/cg/foley-catheter-placement-and-care.html.
Gill, B. (2018). Neurogenic Bladder: Overview, Neuroanatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology. Emedicine.medscape.com. Retrieved 21 April 2020, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/453539-overview#a6.
Newman, D. (2013). Indications for an Indwelling (Foley) Catheter. Urotoday.com. Retrieved 21 April 2020, from https://www.urotoday.com/images/catheters/pdf/IndicationsIUC4.pdf.
Thangavelu-Veluswamy, A. (2020). Foley Catheter Insertion: Care, Removal, Use & Types. eMedicineHealth. Retrieved 21 April 2020, from https://www.emedicinehealth.com/foley_catheter/article_em.htm.