Foley Catheter Kit

When is a Foley catheter needed in tactical or field medicine?

Urinary catheterization in tactical medicine is primarily indicated during Prolonged Casualty Care (PCC) — when a casualty cannot be evacuated within a short time window and requires ongoing monitoring over hours. Indications include urinary retention from traumatic urethral injury, neurogenic bladder from spinal injury, bladder obstruction in patients receiving significant IV fluid resuscitation, and urinary output monitoring in hemodynamically unstable patients. The NAR Urinary Catheter Kit provides all components for this procedure in an austere environment.

Why does this kit use Chloraprep instead of betadine for prep?

Chloraprep (chlorhexidine gluconate 2% / isopropyl alcohol 70%) is the current gold-standard antiseptic for catheter insertion site preparation, with multiple studies and CDC guidelines supporting its superiority over povidone-iodine (betadine) for reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The inclusion of Chloraprep swabsticks elevates this kit above many field-expedient alternatives and reflects current evidence-based clinical standards.

Is this kit appropriate for paramedics or only physicians?

Scope of practice for urinary catheterization varies by state and medical director protocol, but many paramedic programs, flight programs, and critical care transport services include Foley catheterization in their scope. The NAR Urinary Catheter Kit is specifically designed for Prolonged Casualty Care contexts, making it particularly relevant for 18D Special Forces Medics, Navy Corpsmen, Physician Assistants, and advanced paramedics/critical care EMTs. Users should confirm their scope of practice before performing this procedure.

What size is the Foley catheter in this kit?

The kit includes a silicone-coated 2-way Foley catheter with balloon. The specific French (Fr) size is not explicitly listed in the manufacturer's published specifications — buyers who require a specific catheter gauge for protocols or patient populations should confirm with North American Rescue or MED-TAC International before ordering. The kit is intended for adult patients in prolonged casualty or field care settings.

What is the leg bag capacity and why does it matter for field care?

The kit includes a 1000ml (1 liter) disposable urinary leg bag, which is the standard capacity for field use. In Prolonged Casualty Care, urine output is a critical hemodynamic monitoring parameter — adequate output (at least 0.5 mL/kg/hr) indicates reasonable renal perfusion. A 1000ml leg bag allows for several hours of output accumulation during transport, giving the treating provider ongoing physiologic data without the need for a fixed bedside collection system.