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How Can Foley Catheter Clogging Be Prevented?
My 91 year old father had a stroke 1 1/2 years ago and is in a skilled nursing facility. He has had a Foley cathether since the stroke. He is having to have the Foley changed out every 1-2 days. I have been told by the doctor and staff that the Foley is clogging due to sediment. I ve even taken Dad to the urologist twice to see if anything can been done so that the Foley can remain in place for a longer period of time. Urologist told me that some patients just have a sediment problem. Also Dad is on a PEG tube so that increase his water intake isn t possible. His doctor also has told us that Dad can t just remain on antibiotics as this will cause resistant bacteria. In closing, Dad has recently in the hospital for aspiration pneumonia and on several IV antibiotics (Vancomycin, Zocin) and the Foley clogging wasn t a problem for the entire 10 days
Mon, 10 Aug 2015
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Some bacterial growth is bound to happen sooner or later when there is an indwelling catheter so I too agree that he can't be continuously on antibiotics. The best way to prevent sediment is to have as large an output as possible. One way to do that is to increase the water intake. Another possibility is the use of a three way catheter which apart from the exit for the urine and the one to inflate the balloon has another one through which perfusion can be given directly into the bladder, usually saline in order to increase the bladder water content and dilute it as much as possible.
I hope to have been of help.
Some bacterial growth is bound to happen sooner or later when there is an indwelling catheter so I too agree that he can't be continuously on antibiotics. The best way to prevent sediment is to have as large an output as possible. One way to do that is to increase the water intake. Another possibility is the use of a three way catheter which apart from the exit for the urine and the one to inflate the balloon has another one through which perfusion can be given directly into the bladder, usually saline in order to increase the bladder water content and dilute it as much as possible.
I hope to have been of help.
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