Question

1- What are complications of a Foley?

2- Which patients are candidates for Foley catheter and what are the benefits of its use?

3- Why is irrigation used for foley care and what's the purpose ?

4- What measures are necessary for the nurse to take before inserting a Foley?

5- For how long should a Foley catheter be in place and why?

6- Describe the differences between a lower and upper UTI.

Answer 1

1.complications of foleys catheter

*Bleeding / Urethral injury :- improper insertion of a foleys can cause rupture of urethra and can cause bleeding

*Urinary Tract Infections :- any foreign material inserted to our body is a source of infection so improper aseptic technique can cause infections of the urinary tract

*Renal damage :- due to prolonged use of indwelling catheter

*Dislocation :- lack of proper practice or experience can lead to dislocation of the foleys even into the vaginal orrifice rather that urethral orifice in females

*Urinary dripping / leakage :- selection of proper size of foleys matters here to prevent leakage of urine

2. Patients who are in need of foleys and its benifits includes

-Pre and post operative patients :- As a part of surgery the patient will be sedated to prevent bed wetting during surgery catheterization is done and after surgery its done to avoid patient travelling and also to measure the urine output

-Bedridden patients :- patients who are bed ridden and cant go to the restrooms are also catheterised

-Severely ill or traumataised patients :- severe RTA cases or any fracture cases to avoid walking

-Urinary incontinence :- Patient who have urinary incontinence are catherterised to prevent bed wetting

-Severe Anemic patient :- where there is a sudden chance of patient collapse , such patients are also catheterised

-For investigation purpose :- for a need of 24 hours urine sample etc a patient is catheterised

-Renal failure :-where the patient is catheterised to measurw the amound of urine output

-Urinary retention :- where the patient cant pass the urine by himself and the way is cleared by insertion of foleys to collect urine

-Prostate hypertrophy :- which is one of the main cause of urinary retention in males

3.why is irrigation used for foleys care and its purpose

Its very important to irrigate the foleys catherter in order to prevent the blockage of catherter due to mucous plugs, or blood clots so that urine is well drained out and there is no chance of a back flow into the kidneys which will further infect kidneys.

The main purpose of this procedure is to prevent the blockage of foleys which cause the urinary stasis or stay back in the urinary bladder where inturn back flow occurs to kidneys and that may affect the kidneys

4.meassures to be taken by nurse before foleys insertion

- Check for the indication of insertion

- Check the doctors advice

-Explain the patient regarding the need of insertion

-Arrange the catheterisation tray with all necessary equipments including two different size of foleys catherter

-Documentation and record it

5.How long a foleys to be kept and why

The duration of foleys catherter depends on the need of each patient and there condition and there ability to void by self

once the patient is stable then the catherter is removes

usually an indwelling catherter is kept for more than 30 days and needs to be monitored every day and care must be given on 30th day and if blocked care should be given as need . A silica catherter can be kept 30-60 days and care is given accordingly after 30 or 60 days

prologed catherterisation can cause UTI and even Renal damage so its important to take care of the catherter.

6. Difference between lower and upper UTI

Lower UTI	Upper UTI
Here urethra and urinary bladder is affected	Here ureters and kidney is affected
Have symptoms like fever ,chills ,burning micturitipn etc	have symptoms of lower UTI along with decreased urinary output due to renal damage
Acute is onset	chronic is onset