Main Menu
Definition
WHAT IS A URINARY CATHETER?
WHAT IS A URINARY CATHETER?TRANSCRIPTA urinary catheter, also called a Foley catheter or in-dwelling catheter, is a personalmedical device designed to help your bladder empty when you can’t do it on yourown.A urinary catheter is a very thin, flexible tube that travels through your urethra andinto your bladder. Urine can drain from your bladder through the tube and into a bagwhich is then emptied.You may need a urinary catheter if you: are recovering from surgery, have an enlargedprostate, are not able to control when you urinate, have had a bladder injury, need tohave your kidney functions monitored, or are paralyzed.A urinary catheter is made up of several parts. The catheter is a long, thin, flexibletube with a balloon on one end. When the balloon is filled with saline it expands,helping the tube stay in your bladder. Urine travels out of your bladder, through thistube and into the drainage bag. This bag collects your urine and can be emptied ormeasured if needed.If you are in the hospital, this bag can be hung low, next to your bed. If you are goinghome with your urinary catheter, you must always keep the bag lower than yourbladder to prevent the urine from flowing back up the catheter and causing infection.To insert the urinary catheter, a trained member of your healthcare team will guide thetube through your urethra, located just above the vagina if you are female and in thetip of the penis if you are male, and into your bladder. A saline solution will be injectedthrough the tube to inflate the balloon so it can’t slip out of your bladder.To prevent infection, a urinary catheter should be used for the shortest amount of timepossible. If you need a urinary catheter for a longer amount of time, your healthcareprovider may recommend you move to a more long-term catheter system called aself-catheter.20% gradient meshAs long as you have your urinary catheter, it is important to do all you can to preventinfection and keep it working properly to stay healthy.healthclipshealthclipshealthclipshealthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_qc_10042_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient mesh
Search by specialty, location, and more.
Watch this to know how you can prepare at home before surgery.
Learn how a peripherally inserted central catheter device is used to safely deliver long-term medications and draw blood samples.
Watch this to learn the steps for cleaning your tracheostomy.
Learn what to expect when it comes time for your tracheostomy to be removed, allowing you to breathe through your nose and mouth again.
