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What are some tricks for inserting a difficult foley?

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Man or woman?

Man if they are difficult need a coude which has a slight curve at the tip. sometimes just slightly turning the cath as it goes in, also holding the member as straight out as possible.

Women once you find the urethra (Sp?) dot a little betadine there to kind of mark the space. If you don't get it, some leave the cath in place so they wont put in the same place again.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

We just had a difficult one last week.... Had to get three people in there to do it right, but the nurse who was finally successful had to kind of go back and forth with it a little bit to get it to unkink in there (sometimes it coils in front of the prostate). After that she got it right in. Yea, it can be difficult when the prostate is enlarged and your hands are slippery with betadine and lube :(

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Well I wish I could show you but I'll try to explain how to cath difficult to find the urethra patients:

With a female: Have patient lie flat on her back, Pull her down on the bed so that her butt is where the bed bends for the knees, bend the bed at theknees as far as it will go, so that her head is down, butt up in the air. This position tends to open things up and give you a good view. If you still can't visualize the urethra have the patient cough so that she pees alittle,

With a man: Gently pull his member upward and outward. And gently insert Catheter Never force it.

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biggest problem i have w/many women, is my hands slip...

can't get a good grip.

firmly pulling labia up and out, gives you great view.

sometimes, side lying position, w/top leg flexed, is also helpful for viewing.

men over 50 - ugh.

even w/coude's, i often can't get beyond the big, ole' prostate.

there have been times i just leave the cath advanced in urethra (w/o entering bladder), and come back to find the urine spec i needed.

leslie

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Ahh.. the prostate... One nurse told me to lift the member at a bit of an angle, then proceed past the prostate... worked like a charm.

Females.. tougher... asking them to cough helps a lot.

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