How Is a Urinary Catheter Inserted?
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The Facts
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A urinary catheter, or Foley catheter, is a small rubber or plastic tube that doctors use to drain a patient's bladder. Catheters come in different sizes called French. Each French size increases the diameter of the catheter by 1/3 of a millimeter. The two common types of catheters are those with and without balloons. A balloon catheter is used for long-term catheterization wherein the catheter remains suspended in the bladder.
General Precautions
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A catheter creates a direct line to the urinary tract and may cause the person inserting the catheter to come into contact with urine and other bodily fluids. Due to this risk, medical personnel will always wear gloves, face and eye protection when inserting a catheter.
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Male
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As with any procedure, the physician will gather all necessary tools, including the catheter, lubricant, a small syringe filled with water, cleansing swabs, a draining pan and a draining bag.
The doctor will ask the patient to lie on a table while the procedure is done. The doctor will first test the catheter to make sure the balloon functions correctly. He will then lubricate the catheter's insertion tip with KY jelly for smooth insertion and place a sterile drape over the area to help minimize the risk of infection.
Once finished with preparations, the doctor will gently hold the penis upright and clean it with the cleansing swabs. The doctor will then gently insert the catheter into the urinary opening about 1 to 2 inches past where urine begins to flow. He will hold the catheter in place while filling the balloon with water. Once the water has been inserted, the doctor will gently tug on the catheter to make sure it is snugly against the wall of the bladder.
Once the catheter is in place, the doctor will connect it to a drainage bag and secure it to the patient's leg with tape. Patients usually receive two types of bags, a leg bag for daytime use and a night bag, which can be attached directly to a bed frame.
Female
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The preparation and supplies are identical for a female patient. Once the setup is complete, the doctor will ask the patient to lay on the edge of the exam table and place legs into stirrups. The doctor will use the same type of lubrication and drape for the female. Then the doctor will gently separate the libia and swab in a downward motion with the cleansing swabs. The doctor will then gently insert the catheter into the urinary opening and follow the same procedures as he would for a male patient.
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References
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