Which statement about indwelling catheters is NOT true?

Which statement about indwelling catheters is NOT true?

• A. They should not be used solely because the patient is elderly, incontinent, or confused.
• B. They are indicated for urinary obstruction or retention.
• C. They are used when strict input and output monitoring is required in critically ill patients.
• D. They may be used perioperatively for urologic procedures.

Answer: (C)

Indwelling urinary catheters should be used only when there is a clear medical indication, because they carry a real risk of infection and other complications. They are appropriate for urinary obstruction or retention and for perioperative needs in urologic procedures. They should not be used simply because a patient is elderly, incontinent, or confused. In critically ill patients, while accurate input and output monitoring is important, placing a catheter solely for this purpose isn’t justified due to the infection risk; when possible, noninvasive monitoring should be used and the catheter should be removed as soon as it is no longer needed.

Indwelling urinary catheters should be used only when there is a clear medical indication, because they carry a real risk of infection and other complications. They are appropriate for urinary obstruction or retention and for perioperative needs in urologic procedures. They should not be used simply because a patient is elderly, incontinent, or confused. In critically ill patients, while accurate input and output monitoring is important, placing a catheter solely for this purpose isn’t justified due to the infection risk; when possible, noninvasive monitoring should be used and the catheter should be removed as soon as it is no longer needed.