Question

The rationale for inserting a French catheter every hour for the client with epidural anesthesia is:

A. The bladder fills more rapidly because of the medication used for the epidural.
B. Her level of consciousness is such that she is in a trancelike state.
C. The sensation of the bladder filling is diminished or lost.
D. She is embarrassed to ask for the bedpan that frequently.

Answer 1

The insertion of a French catheter every hour for clients with epidural anesthesia is essential because the sensation of bladder filling is diminished or lost, which prevents spontaneous urination and could lead to overdistention and complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rationale for inserting a French catheter every hour for the client with epidural anesthesia is that the sensation of the bladder filling is diminished or lost due to the anesthesia. When normal micturition occurs, stretch receptors in the bladder wall detect when the bladder is full and send nerve impulses to generate a reflex for urination.

Epidural anesthesia can interrupt this normal sensing mechanism, preventing the person from feeling the need to urinate. Without this sensation, the bladder may become overdistended, which can lead to complications. Therefore, intermittent catheterization ensures the regular emptying of the bladder without relying on the patient's compromised sensation to urinate.