Two Nephrostomy tubes AND a foley catheter

[jricci]

Hi

I've been thinking about a patient I had a few weeks ago and can't figure something out. The patient had two nephrostomy tubes, as well as a foley catheterinserted. My question is, why did hehave both nephrostomy tubes and the foley catheter?

Thanks

jricci

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Review where nephrostomy tubes are placed. Understanding where they are placed answers the question as to why this patient also had a foley catheter.

[liveyourlife747]

^^ the nephrostomy tubes are placed in the renal pelvis, where urine is collected after being made before passing trough the ureters to the bladder. I'm not quite understanding of what you mean by "look at the placement and you will understand" urine is not made below that point.

OP: not sure why they would have a foley as well, seems like the nephrostomy tubes would catch all the urine that is produced. The only reason I would think is that maybe the have a need for CBI or antibiotic infusions that would need to be inserted, left to dwell, and then released. I can't be sure though because I do not know why he/she was in the hospital

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

Nephrostomy tubes don't drain ALL the urine. Patients with two nephrostomy tubes still pee.

[liveyourlife747]

Nephrostomy tubes don't drain ALL the urine. Patients with two nephrostomy tubes still pee.

It depends on why the tubes were placed. I've only seen them placed for ureter obstructions. While technically the urine could possibly pass around the tube, around the obstruction, and into the bladder, I'm not too convinced that this is the reason why the pt has a foley with 2 nephrostomy tubes. But like I said, it's hard to know the reasoning behind the multiple tubes without knowing why the pt was hospitalized.