What it means
Describes devices that stay in place, such as an indwelling urinary catheterin-DWEL-ing YUR-ih-nair-ee KATH-uh-terA tube passed through the urethra into the bladder and left in place to drain urine into a bag.Full entry that drains the bladder continuously, or an indwelling IV catheter. The longer a device stays in, the higher the risk of infection.
For the nurse
Ask every day whether an indwelling device is still needed, and remove it as soon as it is not.
Related terms
indwelling urinary catheter
A tube passed through the urethra into the bladder and left in place to drain urine into a bag.
catheter
A thin, flexible tube put into the body to drain fluid out or to put fluid or drugs in.
peripheral IV
A short, thin tube placed in a vein of the arm or hand (or another vein away from the chest) to give fluids and drugs.