Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary

Foley catheter

A Foley (or urinary) catheter is a flexible tube inserted into the bladder. It is used to drain urine from the bladder and helps the team keep track of the outflow. The outflow measurements are often used to help guide therapies and monitor for complications.

Naso-gastric tube

A naso-gastric (NG) tube is a flexible tube that is passed through the nose, and down the throat to reach the stomach. It is used for two purposes:

• To drain the stomach if it is not working properly, which can sometimes happen after surgery;
• To provide nourishment (tube feeding) directly into the stomach if the patient cannot eat because of intubation or cannot safely swallow food.

What is dialysis?

A life-support therapy called dialysis may be needed to treat the complications of kidney failure. Dialysis takes over the function of the kidneys and purifies the blood. It gives the kidneys a period of rest, providing them with time to recover.

The type of dialysis used for critical care patients is known as hemodialysis.

• In hemodialysis therapy, a large intravenous line is inserted in a central vein, in the neck or upper thigh;
• Blood is then removed from the patient and passed through a dialysis machine[CsK4] . This machine purifies or "cleans" the blood;
• The "cleaned" blood is then returned to the individual through another branch of the same intravenous line;
• This therapy is usually delivered at the bedside on a continuous basis.