About Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter: How To Clean and Care for It

This information will help you care for your urinary (Foley) catheter.

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About your urinary (Foley) catheter

Your Foley catheter is a thin, flexible tube placed through your urethra (the small tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body) and into your bladder. Your Foley catheter drains your urine (pee). It’s held inside your bladder by a balloon filled with water.

How your Foley catheter works

Your urine goes from your bladder and through a drainage tube into a drainage collection bag. The drainage bag stays on your leg with a special tape called Cath-Secure^®.

You will have 2 types of drainage bags:

• A leg bag. This is the bag that you wear during the day. It holds half a liter of urine.
• A night bag. This is the bag you will put on at night before you go to bed. It holds 2 liters of urine.

The parts of the catheter that are outside your body are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The parts of your Foley catheter and drainage bag

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How to take care of your Foley catheter

To take care of your Foley catheter, you will need to:

• Clean your catheter every day.
• Change your drainage bags. You will change your drainage bag 2 times a day:
  • In the morning, change the night bag to the leg bag.
  • At night before you go to bed, change the leg bag to the night bag.
• Replace your drainage bags with new bags once a week. You should also change your drainage bag if it gets clogged or blocked.
• Wash your drainage bags every day.
• Drink 1 to 2 glasses of liquids every 2 hours while you’re awake to keep you hydrated.

You may see some blood or urine around where the catheter enters your body. This may happen when you’re walking or having a bowel movement (pooping). This is normal if there’s urine draining into the drainage bag. If you do not have urine draining into the drainage bag, call your healthcare provider.

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How to comfortably wear your Foley catheter and leg bag

• The tubing from your leg bag should fit down to your calf with your leg slightly bent. If you have extra tubing, you may need to cut it. Your healthcare provider will show you how to do this.
• Always wear the leg bag below your knee. This will help it drain.
• Place the leg bag on your calf using the Velcro® straps your healthcare provider gave you. Use a leg strap to secure the tubing to your thigh.
• If the straps leave a mark on your leg, they are too tight. Loosen them. Leaving the straps too tight can lower your blood flow and cause blood clots.
• Use a water-based lubricant (such as Astroglide® or K-Y®) to keep your penis or vagina opening from getting sore.
• Keep your penis or vagina opening clean by taking a shower every day. This will help prevent infections when your Foley catheter is in place.

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How to shower with your Foley catheter

• You can shower while you have your catheter in place.
• Do not take a bath until your catheter is removed. Taking a bath while you have your catheter in place puts you at risk for infections.
• Make sure you always shower with your night bag. Your night bag is waterproof. Do not shower with your leg bag. Your leg bag has cloth on the side and will not dry as fast.
  • You may find it easier to shower in the morning before you change your night bag to your leg bag.

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How to clean your Foley catheter

You can clean your catheter while you’re in the shower. Follow these instructions.

1. Gather your supplies. You will need:
   • Mild soap, such as Dove®.
   • 1 Cath-Secure®.
2. Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
   • If you’re washing your hands with soap and water, wet your hands and apply soap. Rub your hands together well for at least 20 seconds, then rinse. Dry your hands with a paper towel. Use that same towel to turn off the faucet.
   • If you’re using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover your hands with it. Rub them together until they’re dry.
3. Using mild soap and water, clean your penis or vagina.
   • If you have a penis, pull back your foreskin (the skin around the tip of your penis), if needed. Clean the area, including your penis.
   • If you have a vagina, separate your labia (the smaller folds of skin around your vaginal opening). Clean the area from front to back.
4. Clean the area where the catheter enters your body. This is called your urethra.
5. Clean the catheter from where it enters your body and then down, away from your body. Hold the catheter at the point it enters your body so that you do not put tension on it.
6. Rinse the area well and dry it gently.
7. If you removed your old Cath-Secure, attach the catheter to your leg with a new Cath-Secure. This will keep the catheter from moving.

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When to change your drainage bags

You will change your drainage bag 2 times a day. Change it:

• In the morning after you shower, change the night bag to the leg bag.
• At night before you go to bed, change the leg bag to the night bag.

Replace your drainage bags with new bags once a week. You should also change your drainage bag if it gets clogged or blocked.

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How to change your drainage bag

This video demonstrates how to change your urinary (Foley) catheter drainage bag.

Video Details

1. Gather your supplies. You will need:
   • A clean cloth (not one you’re using for bathing) or a 4 x 4 piece of gauze.
   • Your night or leg bag (whichever one you are switching to).
   • 2 alcohol pads.
2. Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
   • If you’re washing your hands with soap and water, wet your hands and apply soap. Rub your hands together well for at least 20 seconds, then rinse. Dry your hands with a paper towel. Use that same towel to turn off the faucet.
   • If you’re using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover your hands with it. Rub them together until they’re dry.
3. Empty the urine from the drainage bag into the toilet. Make sure the spout of the drainage bag never touches the side of the toilet or any emptying container. If it does, wipe it with an alcohol pad for 15 seconds.
4. Place the clean cloth or gauze under the connector to catch any leakage.
5. Pinch the catheter with your fingers and disconnect the used bag.
6. Wipe the end of the catheter with an alcohol pad.
7. Wipe the connector on the new bag with the second alcohol pad.
8. Connect the clean bag to the catheter and release your finger pinch. Make sure the catheter is tightly connected to the bag to keep it from opening or leaking.
9. Check all connections. Straighten any kinks or twists in the tubing.

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How to take care of your drainage bags

Caring for your leg drainage bag

• Empty the leg bag into the toilet every 2 to 4 hours, as needed. You can do this through the spout at the bottom of the bag. Do not let the bag get completely full.
• Do not lie down for longer than 2 hours while you’re wearing the leg bag. This can keep your urine from draining the way it should.

Caring for your night drainage bag

• Always keep the night bag below the level of your bladder.
• When you go to sleep, hang your night bag off the bed. You can do this by using a small trash can. Place a clean plastic bag inside the trash can. Hang your night bag inside of the trash can.

Cleaning your drainage bags

Clean your leg bag and night bag every day. Follow these instructions.

1. Gather your supplies. You will need:
   • White vinegar.
   • Cool water.
2. Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
   • If you’re washing your hands with soap and water, wet your hands and apply soap. Rub your hands together well for at least 20 seconds, then rinse. Dry your hands with a paper towel. Use that same towel to turn off the faucet.
   • If you’re using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover your hands with it. Rub them together until they’re dry.
3. Rinse the bag with cool water. Do not use hot water because it can damage the plastic.
4. To help get rid of the smell, fill the bag halfway with a mixture of 1part white vinegar and 3 parts water. Shake the bag and let it sit for 15 minutes.
   • If you cannot get the mixture into the bag, try putting the vinegar and water into a measuring cup with a pour spout. Then use the spout to help pour the mixture into the bag.
5. Rinse the bag with cool water. Hang it up to dry.

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How to prevent Foley catheter infections

Follow these guidelines to prevent getting infections while you have your catheter in place:

• Keep the drainage bag below the level of your bladder.
• Always keep your drainage bag off the floor.
• Keep the catheter secured to your thigh to keep it from moving.
• Do not lie on your catheter or block the flow of urine in the tubing.
• Take a shower every day to keep the catheter clean.
• Wash your hands before and after touching the catheter or bag.

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Common questions about caring for your Foley catheter

Can I place a Foley catheter myself?

No. Your catheter is placed by your healthcare provider.

How long can I wear my Foley catheter before it needs to be changed?

Your catheter should be replaced about once a month, if it stops working, or if you have an infection.

Can I poop when I have a Foley catheter?

Yes. Your catheter will not affect your pooping.

Can I get an erection with a Foley catheter?

Yes. You can get an erection with a catheter in place.

Can I drive with a Foley catheter?

You can drive with a catheter unless your healthcare provider gives you other instructions.

Can I exercise with a Foley catheter?

Ask your healthcare provider if you can exercise while you have a Foley catheter in place.

Can I swim with a Foley catheter?

No. You cannot swim with a catheter in place.

Can I fly on an airplane with a Foley catheter?

Yes. You can fly on an airplane with a catheter.

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When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if:

• Your catheter comes out. Do not try to put it back in yourself.
• You have a fever of 101°F (38.3 °C) or higher.
• You’re making less urine than usual.
• You do not have urine draining into your drainage bag.
• Your urine smells bad.
• You have bright red blood or large blood clots in your urine.
• You have abdominal (belly) pain and no urine in your catheter bag.

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What’s a Foley catheter? | Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

A Foley catheter 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.

What you can do

If you’re in the hospital, your nurses will care for your Foley catheter. If it’s left in place when you go home, follow the discharge and catheter care instructions you were given.

To help prevent infections and irritation or damage to the urethra and bladder:

• Wash your hands before and after handling any part of the Foley equipment.
• Drink six to eight glasses of water a day, unless you are on a fluid-restriction diet. Your urine should be clear or pale yellow.
• Clean the area where the catheter exits the body, and the catheter itself, with soap and water every day.
• Do not pull on, clamp, puncture or cut the catheter.
• While the catheter is in place, you may have bladder spasms, which can cause pain. Spasms are often set off by having a bowel movement. To help prevent spasms, use stool softeners to avoid constipation. Tell your doctor if you are having painful spasms. To lower risk of infection, clean the area well after having a bowel movement.
• Tell your doctor if you have any signs of infection, such as a fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or if urine is not draining into your bag. Your discharge instructions will specify when you should call the clinic.
• There are two types of collection bags — a large one that can be hung on a lower bedrail and a smaller one that can be strapped to your leg and hidden under clothing if you need to move around or go out. Both types of bags must be kept below the level of your bladder. This prevents urine from flowing back into the bladder and reduces the risk of infection. Empty the drainage bag when the bag is half full. DO NOT allow the urine to sit in the bag for more than three to four hours.

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How is a Foley catheter put in place?

1) After explaining the procedure to you, a nurse will use a catheter kit to place your Foley.

2) The area around the urinary opening is cleansed. (The nurse may use an anesthetic gel to reduce any discomfort.)

3) The tip of the catheter is lubricated and inserted. Take deep breaths and try to relax.

4) The tip of the catheter, which is inside the bladder, has a small balloon at the end so the catheter won’t fall out. Once the catheter is in place, the nurse will inflate the balloon through a special port. (The balloon will be deflated just before the catheter is removed.)

5) The catheter is then connected to the drainage bag.

Keeping the catheter working properly and preventing infection are the most important things you can do. Follow the instructions provided by your nurses to stay safe and recover as quickly as possible.

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Patient Education

Urethral Foley Catheters – Urology Equipment

THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR EVERY CASE

silicone is ideal for long term use. Rüsch Brillant Foley catheters, made of pure, colorless silicone, are distinguished by their smooth surface both inside and outside the lumen. The material is inert and in most cases avoids urethral irritation and salt deposits. Silicone also has high biocompatibility and biostability. Spontaneous reactions to this material are unknown. Due to its good tolerance, silicone is an ideal material for the manufacture of catheters, even those intended for long-term use. The durable and fairly flexible material allows easy and safe insertion, offers a high degree of comfort as well as good urine diversion. The transparency of the silicone allows a visual assessment of the internal lumen and a decision on the need to replace the catheter. Rüsch silicone Foley catheters are extremely cost-effective due to their excellent long-term performance.

Latex * The material used for Rüsch GOLD Foley catheters includes natural latex compounds. This material is one of the most widely used both for standard use and for use in the postoperative period. SiLaSil is latex* coated with silicone elastomer. The structure of the silicone coating gave the catheters their name: SiLaSil = silicone layer – latex middle layer – silicone layer. The latex rod is very flexible. Wear-resistant smooth silicone coating reduces the possibility of salt deposits and increases the life of the catheter. Thus, SiLaSil catheters combine the positive characteristics of latex and silicone, offering high patient comfort with good cost-effectiveness.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – ideal for post-operative applications High quality thermosensitive material especially suitable for post-operative irrigation and diversion catheters. The plastic remains quite rigid during insertion, which facilitates catheterization. Under the influence of body heat, PVC becomes flexible, so the catheter can optimally adapt to the patient’s anatomy. This provides comfort for the patient. The very large inner diameter compared to the outer diameter ensures a high urine diversion capacity. Smooth and dense walls of the catheter allow safe irrigation and prevent obstruction during aspiration of blood clots and resected tissues.

* Latex catheters should not be used in persons with the possibility of developing an allergic reaction to the components of these products.

PROFILCATH AQUAFLATE GLYCERINE BRILLANT FOLEY CATHETER , made of silicone, transparent, with longitudinal grooves for the drainage of urethral secretions, with a filled syringe for balloon inflation.

Art. No. 171505 Silicone, with longitudinal grooves. Cylindrical, rigid tip. Ch size. 12-24, 10 ml balloon, 2 opposite drains, approx. 41 cm long, 5 pcs.

• filled syringe in sterile package (10 ml sterile 10% glycerin solution)
• valve for connecting syringes with Luer and Luer-lock connectors
• radiopaque tip and contrast strip along the catheter shaft
• sterile, single use
• does not contain latex.

FOLEY CATHETER AQUAFLATE GLYCERINE BRILLANT , made of silicone, transparent, with filled syringe for balloon inflation.

• Art. No. 178000 Silicone. Cylindrical, rigid tip. Size Ch. 12-24, 10 ml bottle, 2 opposite drains, approx. 41 cm long, 5 pcs.
• Article 178001 Silicone. For WOMEN, cylindrical, rigid tip. Ch size. 12-24, 10 ml balloon, 2 opposite drains, approx. 23 cm long, 5 pcs.
• Article 178305 Silicone. Timan. Ch size. 12-24, bottle 10 ml, 1 drain hole, length approx. 41 cm, 5 pcs.

• filled syringe in sterile package (10 ml sterile 10% glycerol solution)
• valve for connecting syringes with Luer and Luerlock connectors
• radiopaque tip and contrast strip along the catheter shaft
• sterile, single use
• does not contain latex.

RÜSCH BRILLANT FOLEY CATHETER , silicone, transparent

• Art. No. 170605 Silicone, cylindrical, hard tip, size Ch. 12-24, 10 ml bottle, 2 opposite drains, approx. 41 cm long, 10 pcs.
• Article 171305 Silicone. Timan. Ch size. 12-24, bottle 10 ml, 1 drain hole, length approx. 41 cm, 5 pcs.

• Luer and Luerlock Syringe Valve
• radiopaque tip and contrast strip along the catheter shaft
• sterile, single use
• latex-free

SILASIL FOLEY CATHETER, made of latex, with inner and outer silicone elastomer wear-resistant coating, blue

• Art. No. 186005* Cylindrical. Size Ch. 12/14, bottle 5-10 ml. Size Ch. 16-30, balloon 5-15 ml. 2 drain holes opposite, length approx. 40 cm, 10 pcs.
• Article 186505* Timan. Ch size. 12/14, balloon 5-10 ml. Ch size. 16-24, balloon 5-15 ml. 1 drainage hole, length approx. 40 cm, 10 pcs.

• silicone elastomer wear-resistant inner lining
• valve for connecting syringes with Luer and Luer-lock connectors
• sterile, single use

FOLEY CATHETER RÜSCH SYMPACATH latex, hydrophilic coated, yellow

• Art. No. 180505* Cylindrical. Ch size. 12/14, balloon 5-10 ml. Ch size. 16-30, balloon 5-15 ml. 2 opposite drainage holes, approx. 40 cm long, 10 pcs.

• hydrophilic coating
• valve for connecting syringes with Luer and Luer-lock connectors
• sterile, single use

FOLEY CATHETER RÜSCH GOLD , made of latex, yellow.

• Art. No. 180605*. Latex. Cylindrical. Ch size. 12/14, balloon 5-10 ml. Size Ch.16-30, bottle 5-15 ml. 2 drainage holes located opposite. Length approx. 40 cm. Quantity 10 pcs.
• Ref. 180105*. Latex. For women, cylindrical. Ch size. 12/14, balloon 5-10 ml. Size Ch. 16-22, bottle 5-15 ml. 2 drainage holes located opposite. Length approx. 25 cm. Quantity 10 pcs.
• Ref. 181305*. Latex. Timan. Ch size. 12/14, balloon 5-10 ml. Size Ch.16-26, bottle 5-15 ml. 1 drainage hole. Length approx. 40 cm. Quantity 10 pcs.

• valve for connecting Luer and Luer-lock syringes
• short-term diversion
• siliconized
• sterile, single use

SOFTSIMPLASTIC FOLEY CATHETER , made of PVC, transparent.

• Art. No. 660610*. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Cylindrical. Ch size. 12-26, 10 ml bottle. 2 drainage holes located opposite. Length approx. 42 cm. Qty. 10 pcs.
• Item no. 661610*. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Timan. Ch size. 14-22, 10 ml bottle. 1 drainage hole. Length approx. 42 cm. Qty. 10 pcs.

• heat sensitive
• latex balloon
• valve for connecting Luer and Luer-lock syringes
• red contrast stripe along catheter shaft
• sterile, single use

CATHETER FOLEY RÜSCH made of polyurethane, transparent. Urethral catheter, 2-way, WIRUTHAN, Tiemann, balloon 3 – 5 ml

• Art. No. 331305*. Polyurethane. Timan. Size Ch.6/8, bottle 3 ml. Ch size. 10/12, bottle 5 ml. 1 drainage hole. Length approx. 40 cm. Quantity 5 pcs.

• with Rüsch Gold latex balloon
• valve for connecting syringes with Luer and Luerlock connectors
• sterile, single use

FOLEY CATHETER made of Robusta rubber, red, two way.

• Art. No. 201661*. Rubber. Timan. Size Ch. 10, balloon 3-5 ml. Size Ch. 12-24, balloon 5-15 ml. 1 drainage hole. Length approx. 40cm Qty 10 pcs

• latex coated
• with Rüsch Gold latex balloon
• valve for connecting Luer and Luerlock syringes
• sterile, single use.

Beromed Foley catheter (Germany) – GorMedSnab

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Description

Catheter 2-way urological Foley “Berocath” (Germany) for long-term catheterization of the bladder. Balon 30ml.

A urological Foley catheter is a device designed for a long (up to a week) procedure of catheterization or drainage of the bladder or the performance of various medical manipulations, including elements of diagnosing and treating diseases of the corresponding direction.

Design features

This fixture is made from a premium combination of latex and rubber coated with silicone. This is the best solution, since it provides the catheter with the qualities of neutrality and thermolability – the device is quite rigid in its normal state, but seriously softens when inserted into the human canals, significantly reducing possible discomfort.

The ease of use is also ensured by the completely smooth surface, which also guarantees an easy, atraumatic, pain-free insertion. Characteristically, a smooth change in the degree of rigidity of the catheter from the balloon to the rod reduces the likelihood of injury when inserting the device.

The Foley catheter is characterized by a closed-type distal end with two large lateral holes on the sides, which guarantee high-efficiency drainage, and an elastic non-return valve at the proximal end, which prevents arbitrary deflation.

The product is equipped with a Nelaton-type tip and is distinguished by a high-strength symmetrical balloon, the volume of which may vary depending on the model.

Features of use

The connector with multi-color marking makes it possible to determine the required catheter size in the shortest possible time. Its shape guarantees trouble-free use of catheters with urinals of all types used in medicine.

To ensure complete sterility, each catheter is designed strictly for one-time use, is sterilized with ethylene oxide and packed in a double sterile package, which allows organizing the introduction of the catheter directly from the package without violating sterility.

We offer

We offer to buy a urological Foley catheter, presented in a wide range of sizes. All products fully comply with medical norms and standards, are of high quality workmanship and full compliance with the declared characteristics. The shelf life of catheters is 5 years. (pack of 10 pcs)

We are pleased to offer the following sizes:

Catheter size, CH	Outer diameter of the catheter, mm	Balloon volume, ml	color code
Urological Foley catheters for children
08	2.7	3-5	black
10	3.3	3-5	gray
Urological Foley catheters for adults
12	4.0	30	white
14	4.7	30	green
16	5.3	30	orange
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