Foleys and tampons?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Has anyone ever had a doctor order a patient to have a tampon in while having a foley? I've never thought that was a good idea . . . please don't start with the "well, it's two different holes!" (heard that one all day). I know that. But everyone always says how uncomfortable foleys are, and I speculate that having another tube shaped object in that area at the same time would not be fun . . . have a pt that's burned perianally and has a peroid so heavy that they cancelled surgery. Please advise/give opinions . . .

Thank you!

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
I don't understand how, in a situation with the pt's skin integrity being altered, a tampon can't be seen as an attempt to promote healing and decrease risk of infection. If she is bleeding heavily with her period- and there are people with heavy flows that do not need a procedural intervention- the area is going to stay continually moist. I just don't understand how this can be viewed as only a comfort measure. :confused: I agree in most cases we want to get "out" as much as we can as quickly as we can, but every case isn't text book. I think the foley and tampon are both beneficial to this pts care, even if they are ambulatory.

Foleys are NOT meant for comfort. On the contrary, we go out of our way to avoid them as much as possible because of their potential for infection. Foleys are meant to measure urine output, relieve bladder distention, and assist in the post surgical process.

If it was meant for comfort, we the nurses, would have them too. Life would be so much easier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Foleys are NOT meant for comfort. On the contrary, we go out of our way to avoid them as much as possible because of their potential for infection. Foleys are meant to measure urine output, relieve bladder distention, and assist in the post surgical process.

If it was meant for comfort, we the nurses, would have them too. Life would be so much easier.

Just want to clarify that my comment was in regard to the tampon, in response to your comment where you also stated a tampon was only for comfort. There are times when you have to look at the big picture and use the "benefit outweighs risk" frame of mind. This is apparently what the doctor did when he wrote the order. Unfortunately the pts burned skin puts her at high risk for infection, is it so bad to let her skin heal properly, give her some levaquin prophylacticly and call it a day?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Just want to clarify that my comment was in regard to the tampon, in response to your comment where you also stated a tampon was only for comfort. There are times when you have to look at the big picture and use the "benefit outweighs risk" frame of mind. This is apparently what the doctor did when he wrote the order. Unfortunately the pts burned skin puts her at high risk for infection, is it so bad to let her skin heal properly, give her some levaquin prophylacticly and call it a day?

Sorry, not that easy. Too many questions unanswered. I know of many other ways to protect her skin and a tampon is not included in the careplan.

OP, please clear up some questions.

Too many people willing to go with the doctor's "order" without asking the critical thinking questions.

OP, where are you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Everyone! Wow - sorry - was out of town for a bit and didn't expect anything near this response! OK - to answer some of the Qs :

1) The pt was burned in an ATV Accident - she was sitting on it and there was some sort of explosion I believe.

2) I found this out later, she has some sort of hormone imbalance that causes her to have really long, heavy periods. She is on BCP to try to regulate things, but I guess her PCP still has not found the dose that would do it for her.

3) I finally saw the wounds last night (she was going for surgery today) and OMGosh they looked HORRID. They did touch the perinem, but also were inside both inner thighs and they were DEEP. They looked seriously painful. Honestly, if I were her, I might have insisted the foley stay in with burns like that. (They d/ced it last week and have not replaced it).

The doctor (female, btw) did not actually write the order for the tampon, just broached it at the nurses station. I do think its interesting though, how much feedback the questions generated. Again, to my original thought, I have never seen it done (foley + tampon) but I haven't ever seen a patient with a tampon either. I would much rather sleep with a tampon than worry about a pad, but they foley might make me rethink that . . . guess we'll never know unless someone (any volunteers?) ever hears of one, or tries one. Thanks for all of your replies!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment