Foley Cath Question

[oxyjen]

I'm embarrassed to ask this, it's a tiny, detailed (dumb) question. Most Foley catheters are 5cc balloons and the tray comes with 10cc of sterile water. The leur cap (orange) says 5cc/10ml. My foundations book says to inflate with 10cc. I have always filled the balloon with the full 10cc. Why is it called a 5cc balloon if it holds 10cc and you are supposed to inflate it with 10cc? Why isn't it called a 10cc/10ml? (I warned you this was a dumb question.) Thanks if anyone knows the history of why this is so.

One other one. Some say the tubing goes under the leg because it is to be below the bladder level Some say over the leg, to avoid skin pressure (under the leg). How do you do it?

[lmcgee86]

I put the foley tubing over the patient's leg, but we are supposed to always use a foley strap to eliminate a lot of the potential problems.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Just a tidbit to add, I have never had it happen to me personally, but I have heard of a state surveyor actually pulling the inflation solution out of the balloon, measuring it, and checking it against what cc balloon was ordered and in place. If it was even 1 cc off, you get cited for not following doctors orders.

STUPID.

Unreal ...

The orders I get for foleys read as follows: "Foley" :chuckle

One thing I was taught & still do when removing a Foley is to use a 10mL syringe, squirt it out, and then aspirate again, just to make sure ... Foley removal should be painless.