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What is a Foley Catheter?

Named after Frederic Foley, an American urologist, the Foley catheter design was created to provide continuous drainage of the bladder. A balloon filled with sterile water is incorporated near the tip of the catheter tubing and once inserted through the urethra and inflated, this balloon prevents the catheter from sliding out of the bladder or moving out of place.

The Foley catheter is often referred to as an indwelling catheter. As this term suggests, it is inserted into the bladder and intended to remain there for either a short or prolonged period of time, depending on the circumstance. The main purpose of the Foley catheter is to drain urine from the bladder into a collection device, typically a leg bag or drain bag.

If you are in a hospital, the collection or drainage bag will typically be emptied and changed by a nurse. Sometimes it will be next to the bed or hung on the rail of the bed for easy access. Should you be discharged from the hospital and need to administer insertion and removal of the Foley catheter yourself, a portable leg or drainage bag will be used that easily attaches to the thigh or calf with a device such as the Statlock Foley Stabilization Device.

When is a Foley Catheter Needed?

Some scenarios when the use of a Foley catheter might be necessary are:

A major surgical procedure involving anesthesia where the patient will be unaware of the need to urinate.
A patient in recovery that may be too weak or sick to safely make it to the restroom to urinate on their own.
A chronic condition such as urinary incontinence where they are unable to control bladder leakage.
Spinal trauma which may cause bladder dysfunction due to nerverelated damage.

How to Insert a Foley Catheter

Syringe with cap off that is used to inflate a Foley catheter with salinePrior to insertion of a Foley catheter, the skin is cleansed with mild soap and water at and around the urethral site of entry to ensure good hygiene. The indwelling catheter is then inserted by gently pushing the catheter insertion tip up through the urethra and guiding it into the bladder. Once the tube is fully in the bladder, the balloon is gradually inflated with a syringe containing sterile saline to the recommended volume marked on the balloon port of the catheter. The indwelling catheter will then remain in place for an extended period of time. The two eyelets at the end of the Foley catheter tube allow urine to flow from the bladder, down the tubing, and into a collection container such as the ConvaTec Urine Night Drainage System or bag like the Reliamed Leg Bag, and then emptied as needed.