Current Patients:

Caring for Your Foley Catheter

General:

The Foley catheter, held in place by a balloon inside the bladder, allows continuous urine drainage into a collection bag.

  • During the day, you will use the smaller leg bag that straps around your thigh. It lets you move around more easily, but it must be emptied every three to four hours, or as needed.
  • During the night, you will use the larger, hospital-type bag. It does not need to be emptied as often. When you get into bed, be sure to arrange the drainage tubing so it does not kink or loop.

To Empty the Collection Bag:

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Remove the stopper on the small bag, or open the clamp on the large bag, and drain the urine. DO NOT TOUCH THE END OF THE DRAINAGE SPOUT.
  3. Replace the stopper, or re-clamp the drainage spout.
  4. Wash your hands.

To Change Your Collection Bag:

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Empty the collection bag.
  3. Carefully (without pulling on the Foley catheter) disconnect the catheter from the drainage tube. Connect the catheter and the new drainage tube. DO NOT TOUCH THE OPEN END OF THE CATHETER OR THE DRAINAGE TUBE.
  4. Wash your hands.

To Care for Your Collection Bag:

  1. Wash gently in warm (not hot) water.
  2. Rinse with a solution of one tablespoon of vinegar in one quart of water.
  3. Leaving the drainage spout open, hang the collection bag to air dry.

To Help Prevent Infection:

  1. Wash the area around the catheter at least twice every day, and as often as needed to keep the area clean and dry. Use soap and water.
  2. NEVER pull on your catheter to try to remove it yourself.
  3. Tape the catheter or attach the Velcro strap to your thigh for comfort.
  4. Keep the drainage tubing free of kinks and loops.
  5. ALWAYS keep the collection bag below the level of the bladder.
  6. Drink at least eight (8) large glasses of water every day.

Notify Us Immediately if:

  1. Urine stops draining from your catheter into the drainage bag.
  2. There are clots in your urine.
  3. You experience bladder spasms that are not relieved with pain medication.
  4. You have a temperature over 101° F.