Foley Care

Foley care for quadriplegic patients can be a delicate, (sometimes messy), but overall easy process.  Quadriplegics haven't any feeling, nor independent functioning below their neck, which of course includes outside appendage function, as well as internal.  This being said, all quadriplegics are incontinent of bowel and bladder and require specific equipment to contain such specimen.

A foley catheter, for those unaware, is a means for a patient to empty their bladder when needed, through a tube that flows into a measurable plastic bag.  Quadriplegics normally do not have the foley inserted into their urethra, as do other patients requiring such apparatus, simply due to infection control.  The foley is inserted through the lower abdomen (pelvic area) directly into the bladder.  This insertion sight is closely monitored to ensure there isn't a blockage of any sort, or the beginning of an infection to the open sight.

As a care giver, I have used this equipment on innumerable occasions. While periodically checking on the patient you will determine whether his / her foley bag will need to be emptied. Before starting, always apply latex gloves for protection.  After recording the output, you simply unlock the drainage spout and pour into a bed pan, reattach the spout, and the patient is good to go for another few hours. Please be sure to empty and sanitize the bed pan.  It is actually much easier to care for these patients in such a way, as it prevents the quadriplegic from becoming saturated in his or her own urine.  It is also easier for the care giver to monitor the patient's bladder output, as well as contain it in a safe, cleanly way.