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Is There A Way To Tell If His Bladder Is Functioning Or Not?

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Posted on Sat, 28 Nov 2020
Twitter Sat, 28 Nov 2020 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 15 Apr 2025 Last reviewed on
Question : Welcome to 'Ask a Doctor'. Please type your question here...My husband has a Foley catheter and is worried that its not draining his bladder. Is there a way to tell if his bladder is functioning or not?
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Answered by Dr. Vasudha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
When Foley's catheter is used continuously, at times the catheter tube can get clogged by few particles in urine &the urine flow in urobag can slow down or stop.
Urinary bladder is an elastic storage vessel for urine.It is elastic in nature&can store about800ml of urine in it.
- If urinary bladder is working normally..
it would increase in size ,when the catheter fails to drain urine out...&patient would have sence of bloating,discomfort in lower part of abdomen above pubic bone.Also there would be urge to pass urine.
-In such case a nurse can flush the catheter with normal saline..to clear the catheter &urine would start flowing through it in urobag.This also indicates normality of bladder&urine formation in kidney.
I hope that helps you.Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Dr. Vasudha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1970

Answered : 10369 Questions

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Is There A Way To Tell If His Bladder Is Functioning Or Not?

Brief Answer: Detailed answer below. Detailed Answer: Hi, When Foley's catheter is used continuously, at times the catheter tube can get clogged by few particles in urine &the urine flow in urobag can slow down or stop. Urinary bladder is an elastic storage vessel for urine.It is elastic in nature&can store about800ml of urine in it. - If urinary bladder is working normally.. it would increase in size ,when the catheter fails to drain urine out...&patient would have sence of bloating,discomfort in lower part of abdomen above pubic bone.Also there would be urge to pass urine. -In such case a nurse can flush the catheter with normal saline..to clear the catheter &urine would start flowing through it in urobag.This also indicates normality of bladder&urine formation in kidney. I hope that helps you.Any follow up query is welcome. Thanks.