Foley tube. Comprehensive Guide to Foley Catheter Care: Cleaning, Maintenance, and Daily Living

01.05.202126.07.2023 by alexxlab

How to properly clean and care for your urinary (Foley) catheter. What are the essential steps for changing drainage bags. How to comfortably wear a Foley catheter and leg bag. What are the best practices for showering with a catheter.

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Understanding Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter

A Foley catheter is a crucial medical device for many individuals who require assistance with urinary drainage. This thin, flexible tube is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder, allowing for continuous urine flow into a drainage bag. But what exactly makes up this essential piece of medical equipment?

Key Components of a Foley Catheter System

Catheter tube: The main flexible tube that enters the body
Inflation balloon: Keeps the catheter securely in place within the bladder
Drainage tube: Connects the catheter to the collection bag
Leg bag: A smaller bag for daytime use, holding up to 500 ml of urine
Night bag: A larger bag for overnight use, with a 2-liter capacity
Cath-Secure®: Special tape to secure the drainage bag to your leg

Understanding these components is crucial for proper care and maintenance of your Foley catheter. The system works by allowing urine to flow from your bladder through the catheter and drainage tube into the collection bag. This process helps maintain urinary health and comfort for those who cannot void naturally.

Essential Daily Care for Your Foley Catheter

Proper daily care of your Foley catheter is vital for preventing infections and ensuring the device functions correctly. What are the key steps you should follow each day?

Daily Catheter Care Routine

Clean the catheter and surrounding area daily
Change between leg bag (day) and night bag as needed
Replace drainage bags weekly or if clogged
Wash drainage bags daily
Stay hydrated by drinking 1-2 glasses of liquid every 2 hours while awake

Is it normal to see blood or urine around the catheter insertion site? Yes, small amounts can be normal, especially during movement or bowel movements. However, if you notice this without urine draining into the bag, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Mastering Comfortable Wear of Your Foley Catheter

Wearing a Foley catheter doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. By following some key guidelines, you can ensure maximum comfort and minimize potential complications.

Tips for Comfortable Catheter Wear

Position the leg bag below your knee for proper drainage
Use Velcro® straps to secure the bag, ensuring they’re not too tight
Apply a water-based lubricant to prevent soreness
Maintain cleanliness with daily showers
Adjust tubing length if necessary (your healthcare provider can guide you)

Why is it important to keep the leg bag below your knee? This positioning aids in proper drainage, utilizing gravity to help urine flow smoothly from the bladder to the collection bag. Remember, if the straps leave marks on your skin, they’re too tight and should be loosened to prevent potential blood clot formation.

Showering Safely with a Foley Catheter

Maintaining personal hygiene is crucial when you have a Foley catheter, but how can you shower safely without risking infection or damaging the catheter?

Guidelines for Showering with a Catheter

Always use the night bag when showering, as it’s waterproof
Avoid baths until the catheter is removed to prevent infection risks
Consider showering in the morning before changing to the leg bag
Clean the catheter and surrounding area thoroughly during your shower

Can you use your leg bag while showering? No, the leg bag has cloth sides and doesn’t dry quickly, making it unsuitable for shower use. Always opt for the waterproof night bag when bathing.

Proper Cleaning Techniques for Your Foley Catheter

Cleaning your Foley catheter is a critical part of your daily care routine. But what’s the best way to ensure thorough cleaning without causing irritation or damage?

Step-by-Step Catheter Cleaning Process

Gather supplies: mild soap, Cath-Secure®
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
Clean genital area with mild soap and water
Clean the catheter insertion site (urethra)
Clean the catheter from the insertion point downward
Rinse thoroughly and dry gently
Secure the catheter with a new Cath-Secure®

Why is it important to clean the catheter from the insertion point downward? This technique helps prevent bacteria from being pushed towards the urethra, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections.

Mastering Drainage Bag Changes

Changing your drainage bags correctly is crucial for maintaining hygiene and preventing complications. But how often should you change them, and what’s the proper procedure?

Drainage Bag Changing Schedule

Change from night bag to leg bag in the morning
Switch from leg bag to night bag before bed
Replace bags with new ones weekly
Change immediately if clogged or blocked

Why is it necessary to change drainage bags twice daily? This practice helps maintain cleanliness and ensures you’re using the appropriate bag size for your activities. The leg bag’s smaller capacity is suitable for daytime mobility, while the night bag’s larger size accommodates overnight urine production.

Steps for Changing Drainage Bags

Wash hands thoroughly
Prepare the new bag by closing the drainage spout
Pinch the catheter tube to prevent urine leakage
Disconnect the old bag and immediately connect the new one
Ensure all connections are secure
Wash the removed bag thoroughly for reuse

Remember to always keep the drainage bag below the level of your bladder to facilitate proper urine flow and prevent backflow, which could lead to infections.

Troubleshooting Common Foley Catheter Issues

While proper care significantly reduces complications, it’s essential to be aware of potential issues that may arise with your Foley catheter. What are some common problems, and how can you address them?

Recognizing and Addressing Catheter Complications

Leakage around the catheter: May indicate improper sizing or positioning
Catheter blockage: Can be caused by kinks in the tubing or sediment buildup
Urinary tract infections: Watch for fever, cloudy urine, or strong odor
Skin irritation: Can occur at the insertion site or where the bag touches the skin

How can you prevent catheter blockage? Ensure adequate fluid intake, avoid kinks in the tubing, and maintain proper hygiene. If you suspect a blockage, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While many minor issues can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. These include:

Fever over 101°F (38.3°C)
Chills or shaking
Severe abdominal or back pain
Blood clots in urine
Persistent leakage around the catheter
No urine output for several hours

Prompt attention to these symptoms can prevent more serious complications and ensure your catheter continues to function properly.

Nutrition and Hydration with a Foley Catheter

Proper nutrition and hydration play a crucial role in maintaining urinary health and preventing complications when you have a Foley catheter. But what specific dietary considerations should you keep in mind?

Hydration Guidelines

Adequate fluid intake is essential for preventing urinary tract infections and catheter blockages. Aim to:

Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily, unless otherwise instructed by your healthcare provider
Consume 1-2 glasses of liquid every 2 hours while awake
Monitor urine color – it should be light yellow to clear

Why is proper hydration so important with a Foley catheter? Adequate fluid intake helps flush out bacteria and prevents the buildup of sediment that could block the catheter.

Dietary Recommendations

While there’s no specific “catheter diet,” certain nutritional choices can promote urinary health:

Include cranberry juice or supplements (if approved by your doctor) to help prevent UTIs
Consume foods high in vitamin C to maintain urine acidity
Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder
Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Remember, always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or fluid intake, especially if you have other health conditions.

Maintaining an Active Lifestyle with a Foley Catheter

Having a Foley catheter doesn’t mean you have to give up an active lifestyle. With proper care and precautions, you can continue many of your regular activities. But how can you stay active safely?

Tips for Physical Activity

Start with low-impact activities like walking or swimming (with doctor’s approval)
Secure the catheter and drainage bag properly before exercising
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to prevent irritation
Empty the drainage bag before starting any physical activity
Stay hydrated during and after exercise

Can you swim with a Foley catheter? While swimming is possible, it’s crucial to consult your healthcare provider first and take extra precautions to prevent infections.

Travel Considerations

Traveling with a Foley catheter requires some additional planning:

Bring extra supplies, including catheters, drainage bags, and cleaning materials
Carry a travel letter from your doctor explaining your medical need for the catheter
Plan restroom breaks and bag emptying opportunities during your journey
Consider using a larger capacity bag for long trips

Remember, maintaining your catheter care routine is crucial even when you’re away from home. Always prioritize hygiene and follow your healthcare provider’s guidelines for safe activity and travel.

Long-Term Management and Quality of Life

Living with a Foley catheter long-term requires not only physical care but also attention to your emotional and social well-being. How can you maintain a high quality of life while managing your catheter?

Emotional and Social Considerations

Join support groups or online communities for individuals with catheters
Communicate openly with friends and family about your needs
Explore adaptive clothing options for comfort and discretion
Consider counseling if you’re struggling with body image or self-esteem issues

How can you maintain intimacy with a Foley catheter? Open communication with your partner and consultation with your healthcare provider can help you navigate intimacy safely and comfortably.

Long-Term Health Monitoring

Regular check-ups are crucial for long-term catheter users:

Schedule regular appointments with your urologist or healthcare provider
Monitor for signs of chronic urinary tract infections
Discuss any changes in your condition or catheter function promptly
Stay informed about new developments in catheter technology and care

By staying proactive about your health and maintaining open communication with your healthcare team, you can ensure the best possible outcomes and quality of life with your Foley catheter.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

How to clean your Foley catheter

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

Gather your supplies. You will need:
- Mild soap, such as Dove®.
- 1 Cath-Secure®.
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.
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.
Clean the area where the catheter enters your body. This is called your urethra.
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.
Rinse the area well and dry it gently.
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.

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.

How to change your drainage bag

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

Video Details

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.
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.
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.
Place the clean cloth or gauze under the connector to catch any leakage.
Pinch the catheter with your fingers and disconnect the used bag.
Wipe the end of the catheter with an alcohol pad.
Wipe the connector on the new bag with the second alcohol pad.
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.
Check all connections. Straighten any kinks or twists in the tubing.

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.

Gather your supplies. You will need:
- White vinegar.
- Cool water.
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.
Rinse the bag with cool water. Do not use hot water because it can damage the plastic.
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.
Rinse the bag with cool water. Hang it up to dry.

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.

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.

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.

Urinary catheters: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

A urinary catheter is a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder.

Urinary catheters are used to drain the bladder. Your health care provider may recommend that you use a catheter if you have:

Urinary incontinence (leaking urine or being unable to control when you urinate)
Urinary retention (being unable to empty your bladder when you need to)
Surgery on the prostate or genitals
Other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, dementia, or other operations

Catheters come in many sizes, materials (latex, silicone, Teflon), and types (straight or coude tip). A Foley catheter is a common type of indwelling catheter. It has soft, plastic or rubber tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine.

In most cases, your provider will use the smallest catheter that is appropriate.

There are 3 main types of catheters:

Indwelling catheter
Condom catheter
Intermittent self-catheter

INDWELLING URETHRAL CATHETERS

An indwelling urinary catheter is one that is left in the bladder. You may use an indwelling catheter for a short time or a long time.

An indwelling catheter collects urine by attaching to a drainage bag. The bag has a valve that can be opened to allow urine to flow out. Some of these bags can be secured to your leg. This allows you to wear the bag under your clothes. An indwelling catheter may be inserted into the bladder in 2 ways:

Most often, the catheter is inserted through the urethra. This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Sometimes, the provider will insert a catheter into your bladder through a small hole in your lower belly. This is done at a hospital or provider’s office.

An indwelling catheter has a small balloon inflated on the end of it. This prevents the catheter from sliding out of your body. When the catheter needs to be removed, the balloon is deflated.

CONDOM CATHETERS

Condom catheters can be used by men with incontinence. There is no tube placed inside the penis. Instead, a condom-like device is placed over the penis. A tube leads from this device to a drainage bag. The condom catheter must be changed every day.

INTERMITTENT CATHETERS

You would use an intermittent catheter when you only need to use a catheter sometimes or you do not want to wear a bag. You or your caregiver will insert the catheter to drain the bladder and then remove it. This can be done only once or several times a day. The frequency will depend on the reason you need to use this method or how much urine needs to be drained from the bladder.

DRAINAGE BAGS

A catheter is most often attached to a drainage bag.

Keep the drainage bag lower than your bladder so that urine does not flow back up into your bladder. Empty the drainage device when it is about one half full and at bedtime. Always wash your hands with soap and water before emptying the bag.

HOW TO CARE FOR A CATHETER

To care for an indwelling catheter, clean the area where the catheter exits your body and the catheter itself with soap and water every day. Also clean the area after every bowel movement to prevent infection.

If you have a suprapubic catheter, clean the opening in your belly and the tube with soap and water every day. Then cover it with dry gauze.

Drink plenty of fluids to help prevent infections. Ask your provider how much you should drink.

Wash your hands before and after handling the drainage device. DO NOT allow the outlet valve to touch anything. If the outlet gets dirty, clean it with soap and water.

Sometimes urine can leak around the catheter. This may be caused by:

A catheter that is blocked or that has a kink in it
A catheter that is too small in diameter
Bladder spasms
Constipation
The wrong balloon size
Urinary tract infections

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Complications of catheter use include:

Allergy or sensitivity to latex
Bladder stones
Blood infections (septicemia)
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Kidney damage (usually only with long-term, indwelling catheter use)
Urethral injury
Urinary tract or kidney infections
Bladder cancer (only after long-term indwelling catheter)

Contact your provider if you have:

Bladder spasms that do not go away
Bleeding into or around the catheter
Fever or chills
Large amounts of urine leaking around the catheter
Skin sores around a suprapubic catheter
Stones or sediment in the urinary catheter or drainage bag
Swelling of the urethra around the catheter
Urine with a strong smell, or that is thick or cloudy
Very little or no urine draining from the catheter and you are drinking enough fluids

If the catheter becomes clogged, painful, or infected, it will need to be replaced right away.

How to choose a Foley catheter? Foley catheter and prostatic catheter are the main differences.

In today’s article we will tell you how to choose a Foley catheter, what you need to consider when buying, what types and structural features of urethral catheters, and how prostatic catheters differ from Foley catheters.

A Foley catheter or urethral catheter is a special medical device designed to drain urine from the bladder. To do this, it is introduced into the cavity of the bladder through natural ways – the urethra – and fixed with a balloon. Such a catheter is installed for a period of 1 to 90 days. Foley catheter is not uncommon in the Russian market. It can be ordered at a specialized company dealing with medical equipment and consumables, medical equipment stores, pharmacies, and some orthopedic salons. When buying a Foley catheter, do not forget to purchase a urinal – a special product that is attached to the Foley catheter, where urine enters after excretion from the body.

How to choose a Foley catheter?

To buy a Foley catheter, you need to clarify with your doctor the following parameters, knowledge of which will greatly facilitate your ordering a catheter:

Catheter size (diameter). The unit of measurement for the diameter of catheters is Sharière (Ch, Shr) or French (Fr). 1 Ch/Fr = 0.33 mm. The size of the catheter is chosen by the attending physician based on the patient’s condition, the time of installation, and the material of the catheter. As a rule, 6-10 Ch are children’s sizes, 14-16 Ch are more often for women, and 20-24 for men. Each case is unique, so never buy a Foley catheter without a doctor’s prescription. There are also various recommendations of professional urological associations – the Russian Society of Urology, the European Society of Urology – which detail the criteria for choosing a catheter diameter.

Diameter	Readings
6-8Ch	Child sizes
10Ch	Clear urine, no hematuria (presence of blood in the urine), mucus
12-14 Ch	Clear urine, without hematuria, mucus, “sand”
16Ch	Slightly turbid urine, may have mild hematuria with little or no clots, some mucus, tissue debris
18Ch	Severe hematuria, the presence of clots, a large amount of mucus, tissue debris, the presence of “sand” in the urine
20-24Ch	Severe hematuria, a large amount of mucus, blood clots, “sand”. Washing required.

If the catheter is often clogged, you can choose a larger size. It must be remembered that the larger the diameter of the catheter, the higher the risk of injury to the urethra.

Another characteristic of the product associated with the size of the Foley catheter is the color coding. This helps doctors and nurses in the operating room or treatment room quickly find the right catheter based on its color, and not on the labels on the packaging or on the catheter itself. The color coding may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but it is usually universal and helps doctors navigate the range of consumables more easily. In the picture above you will see a red connector – this is the part in the Foley catheters that is color-coded. We see the red connector and understand that this catheter is 18 Ch.

Foley catheter length. Foley catheters can be male or female. This is due to anatomical features – the urethral canal in men is longer than in women. The length of the female Foley catheter is about 25 cm, the male catheter is 40-42 cm. The female Foley catheter is not available in all medical equipment stores and pharmacies, and besides, it cannot be used in men, so women and men are prescribed universal catheters 40 cm long.

Size balloon. To fix the catheter in the bladder cavity, a balloon is used, located at the distal end of the catheter. Upon insertion, the balloon is deflated and does not protrude above the catheter surface. With the successful introduction of the catheter into the bladder, the balloon is “inflated” with saline to the desired volume. Thanks to a special valve in the connector, saline does not flow back. Foley catheters most often have a balloon volume of 30 ml, but there are models with a balloon of 15 or 50 ml. In children’s Foley catheters, the volume of the balloon is 1.5-5 ml. The balloon prevents the urethral catheter from “falling out” of the bladder.

Foley catheter tip straight or curved or Nelaton vs Tiemann. The tip of the Foley catheter (the part above the balloon) can be straight or curved. The straight form (classic version) is the most common model. Such a tip is also called the Nelaton catheter, after the urologist who first used a urethral catheter to divert urine. For complicated cases of insertion, for example, with prostatic hyperplasia, there is a coracoid curved tip – the Tiemann catheter. The tip itself in Tiemann or Nelaton catheters is closed with two side holes.

Foley catheter material. The material of the catheter directly affects the comfort of the patient, the frequency of replacement of the catheter and its operational characteristics. Today, Foley catheters are made from:

Silicone-coated latex (siliconized latex) is a cheap material, quite soft, porous. Unfortunately, many patients are allergic to latex, making long-term use impossible. To reduce the risk of allergies, as well as to improve performance, the latex catheter is coated with a micron layer of silicone. A latex Foley catheter is placed for up to 7 days.
Silicone is a fully biocompatible material that does not cause inflammation or allergic reactions. Silicone catheters are soft, with a thin wall. Silicone Foley catheters have a large internal lumen, which provides better urine diversion. They clog less and can be installed for up to 30 days. Children’s catheters are made of silicone. The special treatment of the silicone and the surface of the catheter allowed them to be installed for up to 90 days – for example, the X-Tra and Folisyl LT series from Coloplast.
“Silver” is an outdated type of catheter. Material: silicone with a layer of silver, so these catheters are often called “silver plated”. It was believed that silver catheters have antibacterial activity, however, studies have shown that the presence of a layer of silver does not significantly affect either the development of infection or the time of installation. Due to low profitability and lack of clear clinical efficacy, silver catheters are practically withdrawn from circulation. Instead, patients are advised to buy long-lasting silicone Foley catheters (with an insertion period of up to 90 days).

Number of strokes: 2 or 3? The most problematic issue. Unfortunately, due to errors in terminology, doctors, patients, and pharmacy staff often confuse three-way Foley catheters with prostatic catheters (TURP catheters, hemostatic catheters). The classic Foley catheter has 2 passages, that is, 2 channels, one of which is used for urine diversion, and the second for balloon inflation. In some cases, a third channel / passage is required – for washing and introducing medicinal substances into the bladder cavity.

However, there are prostatic or three-way catheters. Prostatic catheters are used exclusively in men after prostate surgery – resection of the prostate. Do not confuse them with Foley catheters. Despite the similar structure and function, both of these catheters differ. These differences are:

Balloon volume: for prostatic catheters, the balloon has a volume of 50-120 ml to effectively prevent bleeding after prostate surgery (for Foley catheters it is 15-30 ml).
Tip structure: prostatic catheters are divided into types Dufo, Delinot, Kuveler and others. The curved Dufour and straight Kuveler tips also have a large drainage hole for successful drainage of urine, blood clots, pieces of tissue and mucus. Below is a typical three-way Dufour catheter.

Diameter: prostatic catheters size 18 to 24 Ch/Fr. Foley catheters have a much wider size range – from 6 to 30 Ch.
Number of channels: prostatic catheters are usually always three-way.

Attention! This article is not a call for self-treatment! Be sure to consult with your doctor! Never insert and remove urethral catheters yourself!

Bottom line: any patient may be faced with the need to purchase Foley catheters. When choosing a catheter, it is important to know its dimensions, which are measured in Charrière / French, balloon volume, number of strokes. When buying, check all the data, be sure to check the expiration date of the medical product, the presence of the Registration Certificate and the Declaration and compliance, the availability of instructions. If you find it difficult to choose, then we recommend you the following positions:

Classic 100% silicone Foley catheter: 30 ml balloon volume, sizes 14-24 Ch/Fr, for up to 30 days of placement.
100% Silicone Dufour Prostatic Three-Way Catheter: 50 ml balloon volume, sizes 18-24 Ch/Fr, for up to 30 days of placement.
Dufour Prostatic 3-Way Short Tip 100% Silicone Catheter: 50 ml balloon, sizes 18-24 Ch/Fr, for up to 30 days.

You can buy Foley catheters in Moscow at Uromed M by calling +7 495 783 68 11 or by sending a request to e-mail [email protected] We work with individuals and legal entities. Fast delivery to any region of Russia. No minimum order!

Uromed M is the official distributor of Coloplast products (France) in Russia. Direct deliveries from the Coloplast factory from France.

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Foley catheters Folysil, silicone, type male straight