Which statement describes a Foley catheter?

• A. An indwelling urinary catheter with a balloon at the indwelling end.
• B. An external catheter placed over the shaft of the penis.
• C. Surgically implanted directly into the bladder.
• D. Balloon is filled exclusively with air.

Answer: (A)

A Foley catheter is an indwelling urinary catheter inserted through the urethra into the bladder and kept in place by a retention balloon that sits inside the bladder. The balloon is filled with sterile water, not air, so it stays expanded and securely anchors the catheter without introducing air into the urinary tract. This design allows continuous drainage into a bag while the patient’s urine flows around the catheter.

The other descriptions refer to different devices or incorrect details: an external catheter sits over the penis and does not enter the bladder; a surgically implanted or suprapubic catheter is placed directly into the bladder through the abdominal wall; and balloons filled with air are not used for Foley retention because air can cause discomfort, less reliable retention, and potential safety issues.