Understanding What a Foley Catheter Is
In some situations, individuals will need a Foley catheter. This thin tube is sterile. It is inserted into the bladder for draining urine. The bladder is an organ in the lower portion of the body’s torso that collects urine until it is time to pass that urine out of the body. In some people, the urine is able to escape because the muscle that keeps the urethra closed and prevents leaks weakens. When this happens, urine can escape the bladder and lead to an accident. For those with a serious problem, where the bladder is unable to hold any urine or the accidents occur frequently, the use of this type of catheter becomes very necessary.
The Foley catheter is often called an indwelling catheter. That is because it can remain in place for a significant amount of time. This type of catheter has a balloon device on the end of it. This balloon is filled with a small amount of sterile water. When in place and filled with water, this balloon prevents the catheter from slipping out of the body. When in place, the catheter is able to allow drainage of urine from the body at a regular pace. The urine is then able to empty from the bladder into a collection bag outside of the body. Read more…

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