Which statement about an indwelling catheter is true?

Which statement about an indwelling catheter is true?

• A. It remains in the bladder for continuous drainage
• B. It is inserted only briefly for urine sample
• C. It is always placed via a surgical incision
• D. It is used to drain the kidney directly

Answer: (A)

An indwelling catheter is designed to stay inside the bladder to provide continuous drainage into a collection bag. This ongoing drainage prevents urine buildup and helps monitor output over time. It’s usually inserted through the urethra, though a suprapubic route (through a small abdominal incision) is possible in some cases; but it is not accurate to say it is always placed via a surgical incision. It does not drain the kidney directly—the bladder must first collect urine from the kidneys via the ureters before the catheter can remove it. And while samples can be taken, the primary purpose of an indwelling catheter is ongoing bladder drainage, not just a one-time urine sample.

An indwelling catheter is designed to stay inside the bladder to provide continuous drainage into a collection bag. This ongoing drainage prevents urine buildup and helps monitor output over time. It’s usually inserted through the urethra, though a suprapubic route (through a small abdominal incision) is possible in some cases; but it is not accurate to say it is always placed via a surgical incision. It does not drain the kidney directly—the bladder must first collect urine from the kidneys via the ureters before the catheter can remove it. And while samples can be taken, the primary purpose of an indwelling catheter is ongoing bladder drainage, not just a one-time urine sample.