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Foley Catheters
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Foley refers to Foley catheters or indwelling catheters, which are typically inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. This type of catheter can be used for short and long periods of time and is the most recognizable form of the catheter most of us are familiar with. Foley catheters are made of a pliable material, either silicone or latex.
These catheters feature two separate channels at the end of the tube that allow the safe extraction of urine and stability. One of these channels is a balloon, which is stabilized in a bladder; on the other channel features a bedside drainage bag or leg bag that allows for the passage and collection of urine.
When Do You Need a Foley Catheter
There are several scenarios when a foley catheter may be needed. Although some may choose to use a foley catheter even in other circumstances, these are the most common times when this type of catheter is utilized:
- A patient that needs to recover and may still be too sick or weak to make it safely into the restroom to urinate on their own.
- Someone who has urinary incontinence, which is a chronic condition where they are unable to control bladder leakage.
- Any spinal trauma that can cause dysfunction of the bladder because of nerve-related damage
- A major surgical procedure that involves anesthesia and where the patient will be unaware of their need to urinate
These, and other circumstances, may be reasons for applying a foley catheter. It addresses the need to urinate by the patient and makes any procedure related to the conditions above easier and more efficient to do.
How Often Does a Foley Catheter Need Changing?
As a versatile catheter type, foley catheters can be used for short to longer-term periods of time than other catheter types. Some of the concerns with using catheters for an extended period of time is the risk of infections like Urinary Tract Infections or UTI, because of the bacterial growth in the urethra and bladder. As time goes by, because of the moist environment in the catheter, it makes it an ideal place for bacteria to grow and multiply that results in being more susceptible to the urinary tract and/or bladder infections. Apart from infections, when using plain latex Foley catheters makes it more prone to encrustation, which blocks the lining of the catheter leading to urinary retention.
This is why it is important to keep track of how long it has been since the insertion of the catheter to know when it is best to change out the catheter. For those who are using the Foley catheter for longer periods of time, a four-week interval between changeouts is ideal but may change depending on the person’s individual circumstances and needs.
With the four-week interval as a guide, there are other common indications to know when a Foley catheter needs to be changed such as the following:
- If there is any leakage.
- If you are experiencing any symptoms of an infection, including a fever, bladder spasm, cloudy urine, or bloody urine.
- Excretion of proteins and calcium from the body which promotes encrustation formation and can cause obstruction
- You are not urinating as much and experiencing abdominal pains
It is always best to consult with a medical professional about any changes or if any of these symptoms show up. Preventive measures may be required so your condition does not worsen for cases where there may be an infection.
Foley catheters present an easy and efficient way for persons with urinary issues to remove fluids from their body, and can also be equally helpful in surgical procedures. Knowing the type of catheter you will need for your condition will help you take care of it and lessen the chances of infection or any discomfort.
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