What are long term (indwelling) catheters?
An indwelling urethal catheter also known as “foley” catheter is a closed, sterile system inserted into the urethra to allow the bladder to drain. A catheter is left in place for a period of time and is attached to a drainage bag to collect the urine. These catheters are usually inserted by a doctor and nurse. Drainage bags for long term catheters: • There are two types of drainage bags. • A leg bag is a smaller drainage device that attaches to the leg by elastic bands. A leg bag is usually used during the day since it is easy to hide it under pants or skirts, and can be emptied into a toilet. • An overnight bag is a bag with a long tube that is used during the night. The bag should be hung over the side of the bed below the level of your catheter so that the urine will flow easily.
