How to Irrigate a Foley Catheter

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A Foley catheter is a type of catheter that goes in the bladder and empties it. A Foley catheter is made up of a tube that's inserted into the bladder, and a drainage bag that's attached to the other end of the tube. The drainage bag should ideally be changed out once a day. If the urine draining into the bag is cloudy or smells bad, or if it's not flowing into the bag at all, you'll need to flush the drainage tubing that goes into the bladder. This will keep the catheter clean and working properly.

How to Flush a Foley Catheter

Insert a syringe filled with normal saline (NS) solution into the catheter. Push the plunger down to start the flow of NS. Once it’s done, pull on the plunger to remove the NS. Clean the catheter and drainage tubing and let them dry. Then remove the syringe and reinsert the tubing.

Things You Should Know

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water when your irrigate a Foley catheter.
  • Fill a clean syringe with 60cc of saline solution . To keep it sterile, place a tip cover on end of the syringe.
  • Draw out any leftover urine from the catheter with an empty syringe and flush it out with the saline syringe.
  • Wipe down the drainage tubing and catheter connection site with an alcohol wipe for 15 seconds.
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing the Flush Solution

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  1. When finished, dry off with clean paper towels. If necessary, alcohol hand sanitizer or towelettes may be used instead.
    • Though not always necessary for home irrigation, you can put on disposable latex gloves for extra safety.
  2. To prevent infection, only use an unopened, sterile catheter tip syringe unless directed otherwise by your clinician. To make sure that the syringe remains sterile, do not allow the tip of the syringe to touch your skin or any other object.
    • You'll need to use a 60cc catheter-tipped syringe for this. It may also be called a Toomey syringe. [1]
    • Catheter tip syringes can be purchased at most medical supply stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. They are typically sold in multi-syringe bundles for less than $1 per individual unit.
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  3. Place the tip of your syringe into a bottle of normal saline solution. Then, pull back on the plunger of the syringe. Continue pulling the plunger until you have filled the syringe with the amount of saline prescribed by your doctor, typically around 60cc. [2]
    • Look for saline solutions at most medical supply and drug stores. They typically cost between $4 and $9 per bottle.
    • If you can't afford saline solution, use an unopened bottle of water instead. You can also boil tap water, then use it after it's cooled. [3]
    • Do not use homemade saline solutions since they will increase your chances of infection.
    • While handling the bottle of saline solution, you should only touch the outside of the container. Do not get your fingers on the top or inside of the bottle.
  4. Remove the syringe from the saline bottle and hold it vertically. Then, tap on the barrel with your knuckles to loosen any air bubbles. Place the syringe back into the bottle, then carefully push the plunger to get rid of the trapped air. [4]
    • If necessary, pull the plunger back again to replace any lost saline.
  5. To make sure it stays sterile, place the tip cover included with your syringe onto the catheter tip. If a cover was not included, place the syringe back into its sterile packaging. Set it aside for later use.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Flushing the Catheter

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  1. For safety, you should wash your hands again even if you already did so while preparing the syringe. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, scrubbing well for at least 15 seconds. Dry them with a clean paper towel when finished.
    • If you are wearing latex gloves, replace them with a fresh pair.
  2. To absorb excess liquid and urine, place several towels beneath the connection site joining the catheter to the drainage tubing. Then, position a pan beneath the open end of the catheter connection. This basin will collect urine and other fluids that escape the catheter as you irrigate it. [5]
  3. Scrub the connection site between the catheter and drainage tubing with an alcohol pad, cleaning the area for 15 to 30 seconds before continuing. Allow the area to air dry on its own. Do not dry it with towels, and do not attempt to speed up the drying process by blowing on the area with your breath or a fan.
  4. [6] Gently twist the catheter off the drainage tubing to disconnect the two pieces. Place the end of the drainage tubing on a clean towel. Position the catheter over the collection basin you just prepared, but do not let the open end of the catheter actually touch the basin. [7]
    • Make sure the basin is lower than the end of the catheter and the person's abdomen.
  5. Place a sterile, empty syringe into the open end of the catheter that's over the basin. Gently pull the plunger back to check for excess urine. If you draw urine into the syringe, continue pulling to remove the urine currently inside the catheter. Remove as much urine as possible before continuing.
  6. Remove the empty syringe from the catheter and dispose of it. Then, grab the syringe filled with saline solution and, if necessary, remove the cap. Insert the saline-filled syringe into the catheter opening and twist the syringe until the connection feels secure.
    • To keep it sterile, remember to avoid touching the end of the syringe.
  7. Push the plunger down to insert all of the saline into the catheter. Stop if you feel any resistance. When finished, pull back on the syringe plunger to remove as much of the saline solution as you can.
    • If you encounter resistance, stop and call a doctor for help, as they may need to change the catheter or use a different technique to irrigate it.
  8. Scrub both the catheter connection site and drainage tubing with an alcohol wipe for about 15 seconds. Let them dry on their own, and do not attempt to speed up the process by drying them with towels or blowing on them with your mouth or a fan. Make sure to remove the drainage tubing cap before cleaning it. [9]
  9. To remove the syringe, pinch the end of the catheter while untwisting the syringe from the catheter cap. Then, insert the tubing back into the catheter. When everything is secure, discard the used syringe. [10]
  10. For safety, wash your hands with soap and warm water for 15 seconds, then dry them with paper towels. Though this may seem like overkill, it will protect you from any bacteria from the catheter and urine.
  11. After irrigation, urine should flow from the catheter with ease. If urine has not started flowing after 15 minutes, repeat the flushing process. If the problem persists, call your doctor.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How often should a catheter be flushed?
    Jurdy Dugdale, RN
    Medical Review Board
    Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.
    Jurdy Dugdale, RN
    Medical Review Board
    Expert Answer
    If it's a permanent catheter, it may need to be flushed once every few weeks. Some catheters only need to be flushed if the urine becomes cloudy or develops a bad smell.
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  • Question
    How do I irrigate an indwelling catheter?
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    First, detach the drainage bag and tubing from the actual catheter. Attach a 60cc catheter-tipped syringe ("Toomey syringe") to the catheter and pull back to see if you can suction out sediment or clots. Next, fill the bladder slowly with 60cc of sterile water or normal saline via the syringe. Pull back on the syringe and all or most of the fluid should be drained. If the catheter does not irrigate properly, seek medical attention immediately.
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      • 2 unopened, sterile catheter tip syringes
      • Normal saline solution
      • Connection cover for drainage tubing
      • Sterile basin
      • Alcohol wipes
      • Soap
      • Warm water
      • Paper towels
      • Disinfectant spray or wipes

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      References

      1. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.
      2. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.
      3. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.
      4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000530.htm
      5. ↑ http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/TestsAndTreatments/Treatments/Pages/Urinary-Catheter-Care-at-Home.aspx
      6. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.
      7. ↑ http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/TestsAndTreatments/Treatments/Pages/Urinary-Catheter-Care-at-Home.aspx
      8. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.
      9. ↑ http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/TestsAndTreatments/Treatments/Pages/Urinary-Catheter-Care-at-Home.aspx
      1. ↑ http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/TestsAndTreatments/Treatments/Pages/Urinary-Catheter-Care-at-Home.aspx
      2. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 12 October 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To irrigate a Foley catheter, place towels under the person's buttocks and a pan below the catheter tubing, and then sterilize the connection site with an alcohol pad. Then, disconnect the tubing and insert an empty, sterile syringe into the open end of the catheter. Pull on the syringe to remove excess urine. Replace the empty syringe with a catheter tip syringe filled with normal saline. Push the saline into the catheter, then pull as much as you can back out. When finished, reconnect the tubing. For advice on preparing your saline syringe, read on!

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