Published May 16, 2010
care&share
9 Posts
One of my patients gets a foley irrigation three times weekly. Lately, I've been meeting a lot of resistance when I flush the catheter. It's taking me a lot longer and I'm not sure why there's so much resistance. The catheter is in place, intact, and draining urine. Any suggestions why the resistance is happening and how to irrigate smoothly?
CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN
1,174 Posts
Perhaps it's calcification of the foley catheter tip and may require removal and re catheterization of your patient. Just a thought. Has this patient suffered any neurological trauma? Neurologically traumatized patients have high amounts of calcium in their urine.
Could also be possibly caused by infiltration from pathological organisms in the urethra, since urine flowing through the urethra pushes out harmful pathogens. A patient with a foley does not have urine flowing through the urethra on a daily basis.
Perhaps a U/A and urine culture is in order? Does your patient show signs of infection?
shiccy
379 Posts
I was thinking infection, too ... I'd see if you could get a UA, possible ATB if it's +, and then recath after a few doses of ATB
Perhaps it's calcification of the foley catheter tip and may require removal and re catheterization of your patient. Just a thought. Has this patient suffered any neurological trauma? Neurologically traumatized patients have high amounts of calcium in their urine.Could also be possibly caused by infiltration from pathological organisms in the urethra, since urine flowing through the urethra pushes out harmful pathogens. A patient with a foley does not have urine flowing through the urethra on a daily basis.Perhaps a U/A and urine culture is in order? Does your patient show signs of infection?
Thanks for your info. There is some sediment in the urine. Patient has a neurogenic bladder. Seems like we're going to start antibiotic therapy and re-catheterize.
ktwlpn, LPN
3,844 Posts
I have an MS resident with a foley due to neurogenic bladder-we had to go from daily to q shift flushes to maintain patency.