Urine Tube Care

A Foley catheter(Urine Tube) is a semi-flexible plastic tube. One end is inserted into the bladder and the other end is attached to a bag that collects urine. It is used when you cannot urinate normally. This may be due to:

• Incontinence: You can’t control when you urinate.

• Urinary retention: Your bladder becomes full of urine and you (may) feel a desperate, urgent need to urinate, but you can’t. This is a concern because if urine remains in your bladder, you can develop a urinary tract infection. And although the bladder walls are muscular and can stretch, if they remain expanded for too long, the muscles will no longer be able to relax and you will not be able to urinate at all. Without relief, urinary retention can even lead to a bladder rupture.

• Urological or gynecological surgery that affects the bladder — for example, surgery involving the prostate, bladder, kidney or uterus.

• Anesthesia and opioid (narcotic) medications: These drugs can affect the nerves and muscles that control the bladder and urination, causing urinary retention and the need for catheterization. This happens more often in elderly patients. If you have had this problem in the past and you are being scheduled for surgery, be sure to let your doctors know.

• Medical conditions — for example, an enlarged prostate in men, a narrowing of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and coma.

• Injuries — for example, spinal cord injuries.

• Input and output (I & O): Sometimes your clinical team needs to measure how much fluid you are taking in and how much fluid is going out. If you cannot use a commode with a collection/measuring device, collecting urine in a drainage bag provides an easy way to measure what is going out.

What to expect

People have mixed reactions to getting a urinary catheter. On one hand, while putting the catheter in place — or replacing it — may not be painful, it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing for some. On the other hand, urinary retention can be very painful, and inserting a catheter can provide great relief. If incontinence is the issue, a Foley can avoid problems that arise from having no control over your urination.

A Foley is considered a long-term or “indwelling” catheter because it can be left in place for a while. How long it will stay in place depends on your individual circumstances. Your physician will decide when to remove it or how often to change it. For example, if you are prone to catheter infections or blockages, it’s likely you’ll have the catheter replaced more frequently.

Catheters are among the most-used medical devices in hospitals. The most common complication with catheters is an infection called CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection). The risk of developing CAUTI increases the longer a catheter is in place. To lower this risk, most catheters in hospitalized patients remain in place for only two to four days. After surgery, the catheter is removed as soon as you can urinate on your own.

Contact DR HOUZE if needed to, our team of doctor/nurse will promptly respond to your need.