Clamping a Newly Inserted Foley

[MQ Edna]

Has anyone out there ever been told/taught that after inserting a foley, if the patient output exceeds 350 ml in a short period of time (say 10 minutes) then the catheter should be clamped for 10 minutes and reopened as not to cause the bladder to prolapse or injury to the bladder to occur because of the negative pressure created by emptying a full bladder too quickly?

I was talking to an experienced RN yesterday who explained this to me . . .but I had never been taught or told this before. I'm still a novice nurse (10 months ICU experience) and have inserted my share of foleys that have drained a full bladder quickly. I've also assisted other (more experienced) nurses in foley insertion and have never seen anyone clamp the catheter when a full bladder in emptying quickly.

Has anyone ever experienced a pt. bladder injury or prolapse because of too quick emptying as a result of a newly placed foley?

Maybe I missed something in nursing school about this one!!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I have not been taught to do this. While I understand the risk of hypotension, I think there are other ways to deal with that than to clamp and deal with the issues of stagnant urine.

While a "typical" normal void might be about 400 or so, who hasn't had the experience of voiding & looking and being "impressed" with the volume -- "wow, I bet there's at least 600mL in there ..." :chuckle

What about pts. on Lasix who void 400-500, the same amount 20 minutes later, and again 20 minutes after that? In my experience, few of them are hypotensive.