Which statement about the balloon of an indwelling catheter is CORRECT?

Which statement about the balloon of an indwelling catheter is CORRECT?

• A. The balloon's purpose is to occlude the urethra to prevent leakage.
• B. Staff should routinely select a 30mL balloon.
• C. The 5mL balloon should be filled with 10mL sterile water.
• D. Hydrogel-coated catheters should only be used to treat encrustations.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how the balloon functions to keep the catheter in place. The balloon sits inside the bladder and, when inflated with sterile fluid, holds the catheter so it doesn’t slip out or leak around the catheter. For many 5 mL balloons, the recommended practice is to fill with 10 mL of sterile water to ensure the balloon fully expands and can secure the catheter effectively. This is about using the correct fluid (sterile water) and the correct fill amount for the balloon’s size to achieve a proper seal without excessive force. The other statements don’t fit this purpose: the balloon’s job is not to occlude the urethra; using a 30 mL balloon routinely is unnecessarily large and can cause tissue damage; and hydrogel-coated catheters are not only for encrustations—they’re designed to reduce friction and improve comfort during use, not as a treatment for encrustations.

The key idea is how the balloon functions to keep the catheter in place. The balloon sits inside the bladder and, when inflated with sterile fluid, holds the catheter so it doesn’t slip out or leak around the catheter. For many 5 mL balloons, the recommended practice is to fill with 10 mL of sterile water to ensure the balloon fully expands and can secure the catheter effectively. This is about using the correct fluid (sterile water) and the correct fill amount for the balloon’s size to achieve a proper seal without excessive force.

The other statements don’t fit this purpose: the balloon’s job is not to occlude the urethra; using a 30 mL balloon routinely is unnecessarily large and can cause tissue damage; and hydrogel-coated catheters are not only for encrustations—they’re designed to reduce friction and improve comfort during use, not as a treatment for encrustations.