Managing the Foley catheter.

Urethral catheterization of the bladder is a commonly performed but potentially hazardous procedure. With proper patient preparation and catheter selection, difficult catheterizations can be accomplished without injuring the patient. Complications of catheterization include infection, injury to the urethra or bladder, and catheter malfunction. Physician supervision of catheter care is essential. Most of all, prompt replacement of the urethral catheter with an alternative method of bladder drainage, such as spontaneous voiding, external condom catheterization, clean intermittent catheterization or, possibly, suprapubic catheterization, is the best way to prevent the complications of urethral catheterization.