info about risks of urinecatheter during deliviey

Dayray, RN · Dec 15, 2005

Are you talking about an "In and out cath" or a foley (one with a bag)?

In regards to in and out (or strait) cath I haven't read anything about that. I would think they risk of damage to the urethra might be a little higher but don't think its a big issue.

As for foleys, I've read info saying that there is risk of damage to the urethra, spinktor and bladder during pushing. I've also read things that say that say its beneficial to have a foley in place and that it reduces risk to the bladder because it keeps it empty. What I do is take the foley out before pushing and then just strait cath if the bladder gets full.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 15, 2005

If you have an indwelling catheter (foley catheter) in place, best practice is to empty to bulb while the patient is pushing and if the catheter stays in place, re-inflate after delivery, until it's time to remove it permanently. (usually after the patient is able to move/use her legs and ambulate to the bathroom). It's very controversial, the use of indwelling catheters in labor patients who have epidural anesthesia and you will find many here who do NOT practice this.

Whether or not I chose to depends on some variables: if the patient is early in labor and has an epidural that will last for many hours, I find having an indwelling catheter is a wise practice. Where I am, these patients cannot void on their own, their sphincter innervation is too affected by the anesthesia, so having a foley catheter, versus straight-catheterizing patients several times, makes sense. Allowing a bladder to fill up during labor is unwise, for obvious reasons. But, if a patient is later in labor, and gets a short-term anesthetic, I do not put in a foley catheter. I just assess the bladder and if need be, straight-catheterize her before it's time to deliver. Others do it differently.

Really, it depends on your anesthesia. In some departments, patients CAN indeed void on their own with their epidural going; if this is the case, it makes no sense whatsoever to catheterize them at all.

If you are talking about doing a quick in and out catheterization (straight catheter, or "red robin" ) , well the biggest risk you take is obvious: infection. It's to be a sterile procedure in really very NON sterile conditions. The best you can do is to use betadine/iodine prep for the meatus, insert the catheter, draining the bladder, and then be done.

Hope this helps.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 15, 2005

By the way: welcome to allnurses.com!

Uti · Dec 15, 2005

First of all, thank you for your answers. It has helped me a little already. But the information I'm also looking for is about the risks at the time of bringing the catheter in. The risk of perforation of the urethra or bladder because of the weakness of the tissue. Is that a risk, is it a high risk etc. I'm sorry for my bad english, I'm not used to it.