What Are Foley Catheters?

A Foley catheter is a type of indwelling urinary catheter that's inserted through the urethra and into the bladder to drain urine from the body. It can be left in the bladder for various periods of time.

Features

• A Foley catheter is made of soft rubber or plastic tubing and has two narrower tubes inside its outer walls. The tubes branch out into two separate “ports” at the outer end and meet at the inner opening.

Functions

• One inner tube goes all the way through the catheter to drain urine. The second is connected to a small balloon inside the bladder that’s inflated with sterile water to anchor the catheter.

Sizes

• Foley catheters are sized according to the French scale, which measures the circumference of the catheter in millimeters. They are available in 12 through 40 French.

Considerations

• Some people need a Foley catheter for a short period, such as 3 to 4 days after major surgery. Others wear them for many months or even years when they are unable to control their urination.

Warning

• Foley catheters can introduce bacteria into the normally sterile bladder and can cause a urinary tract infection, bladder stones or a bloodstream infection.