Standards to prevent complications of urinary catheterization in children: should and should-knots.

PURPOSE

To share standards for urinary catheterization developed at Children's Hospital, Washington, DC, to prevent complications from using feeding tubes, inserting intermittent catheters too far into the bladder, or not inserting Foley catheters far enough into the bladder.

POPULATION

Infants and children requiring urinary catheterization.

CONCLUSIONS

Using appropriate length urinary catheters and/or inserting catheterizing devices appropriate lengths based on sex, age, and purpose will help prevent knotting of catheters in the bladder and urethral trauma.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Short urinary catheters should be used for intermittent urinary catheterization. If these are not available, standards for length of insertion of the catheterizing device should be followed. To prevent urethral trauma, Foley catheters should be inserted to the hub before inflation of the balloon.