urinary catheterization question

You need to write a letter to the Quality Improvement Committee about this policy because it should state when that catheter needs to be unclamped so urine drainage can resume. Someone slipped up when they wrote and approved that policy.

The whole bladder spasm thing is open to question. Its been discussed here before as well. I personally have put Foleys in, and drained well over 1000 cc, with great relief to the patient! I've seen very large amounts drained many times, and have never seen a spasm in anyone, nor has anyone I know seen it. When someone is that full and in so much pain, clamping the tube doesn't seem the right thing to do, relieveing the pressure is what brings relief. I work in an ER, so if I'm putting in a Foley and getting that much out, it is usually for a complaint of retention. This is not to say spasms can't happen! I just don't think it is as common as the books would lead us to believe. Maybe putting a cath in on an inpatient without the acute pain and retetion, but getting a liter out is different, I don't know.

Seems like if your policy gives a volume limit, it should include the clamping time as well.