Question

You arrive on scene for an elderly patient with suprapubic pain. The patient was discharged yesterday from the hospital with a Foley catheter in place. As you assess the​ equipment, which findings may be contributing to the​ patient's pain?

A. You find a kink in the tubing.
B. The bag is​ one-third full.
C. The fluid in the bag is a pale yellow color.
D. The collection bag is located lower than the urethra.

Answer 1

A kink in the catheter tubing is likely contributing to the elderly patient's suprapubic pain as it can obstruct urine flow and cause bladder distention. The bag being one-third full and the pale yellow urine are not concerns. The collection bag should be located lower than the urethra to aid in drainage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Potential Issues with Foley Catheter Equipment

In assessing the equipment of an elderly patient with suprapubic pain who has been discharged with a Foley catheter in place, there are specific findings that may contribute to the patient's pain:

• A kink in the tubing of the catheter can obstruct urine flow, leading to bladder distention and pain.
• While a bag that is one-third full is not necessarily concerning, it's important to ensure timely draining to avoid the risk of overfilling and subsequent back-pressure.
• A pale yellow color of the fluid in the bag generally indicates normal, healthy urine and is not typically a source of pain.
• The collection bag located lower than the urethra is the correct position to allow gravity to assist in urine drainage and prevent reflux, therefore, it should not be causing pain.

Of these findings, the presence of a kink in the tubing is the most likely to be causing the patient's suprapubic pain and should be rectified immediately to restore proper urine flow.