Urinary Catheter Care and Management

Urinary Catheter Care and Management

A urinary catheter, also known as a urethral dilatation balloon catheter or Foley catheter is an important tool for people with chronic bladder conditions.urinary catheter Urinary catheters can be inserted either temporarily or for the long term, depending on the patient’s needs. Inserting the catheter can be uncomfortable, but most people with a catheter get used to it over time. Catheters can also cause bladder spasms, which can be painful. Keeping the area around the catheter clean, not pulling on or twisting it and drinking plenty of water can help prevent these spasms.

In addition to the physician or urologist who places the catheter, other health care professionals such as nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists play an important role in managing patients with urinary catheters.urinary catheter Interprofessional collaboration and education is essential in the care of these patients to improve outcomes.

A variety of health care settings use catheters in the management of a wide range of conditions that lead to chronic urinary retention including spinal cord injury, amputation and end stage renal disease.urinary catheter Infection is the most common complication of catheterization, but is preventable by practicing aseptic technique and using appropriate medical equipment.

It is essential that health care providers follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI). Facilities can monitor their rates of CAUTI with a free online tool on CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.

A catheter is placed by a physician or nurse in a patient who has symptoms of urinary retention, such as urinary urgency and/or frequency. During the procedure, it is important to verify that the bladder is full with palpation or by using a bladder scanner. A full bladder increases the risk of urethral trauma during insertion and subsequent urethral stricture or stenosis.

Before insertion, the health care professional should wash their hands and inspect the perineal area for erythema, drainage, odor and to assess anatomy. Then, the patient should lie prone on the bed with their knees raised and a waterproof pad placed under the legs to prevent leakage. After the insertion, the health care professional should remove gloves and perform hand hygiene according to agency policy.

The urethra is entered with a guidewire to place the catheter and an inflatable balloon, which is filled with sterile water from a syringe through the inflation connector. A valve is incorporated into the inflation connector to prevent sterile water from escaping when the syringe is removed.

After the urethra is cannulated, a urine-holding bag, which is attached to the catheter with an extension tube, is positioned. Ideally, the extension tubing should be at or below the level of the bladder and not kinked or twisted, to prevent backflow and contamination of the urethra and to ensure that gravity facilitates drainage. The drainage bag should be changed at least twice a day, in the morning and at night before going to sleep. The patient should drink 6 to 8 glasses of liquids a day, unless on a fluid restriction diet.

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