Question about tight foreskin and potential catheter

[melanie_rabbitbarn]

I have two intact boys, and my second, who is now eight months, has a very tight, very long foreskin. There is NO WAY anyone could 'visualize' the urethra, let alone stick a catheter in it. However, he MAY need surgery on his lung (if the CCAM is too big). I am concerned that catheterization may be part of the surgery/week long recovery and wonder if anyone has experience with this situation. My two sons' foreskins are SO VERY different, and I was also wondering about people's long-term experience with a foreskin that is so small that the opening is really no more than a little slit. Any help would be appreciated!

[MyBoysBlue]

Both my boys have a fairly long foreskin. So much so that there is no hole that I can see at all. But they pee. So I know that it opens up, I've seen it when they were still in diapers and pee'd on themselves with it off. The foreskin has a sphincter which keeps it closed and will relax when they pee. You will want to make sure a nicu nurse is one to put in a catheter. They are experienced with intact children as they are usually too fragile to circ if they are in the nicu.

[eepster]

I'm going to second the NICU nurse suggestion, and add that another option is a pediatric nurse trained in a non-circ country (most of Europe, Asia and South America.)  Around here there are many nurses who went to Irish nursing schools.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I to would insist on a NICU nurse and I would make it clear that if anyone retracted him you would file a complaint if not a lawsuit. Since they would probably place the cath. in the operating room you wouldnt be able to be there to watch to make sure he wasnt hurt so you really need to be aggressive in letting them know that you are serious about him not being retracted.

I hope your ds dosnt need surgery so you wont have to worry about it

[Aliy]

they tried to put a catheter in my ds2 when he was about 5 weeks old casue they wanted a sterile sample. they were very surprised that i wouldn't leave my son while they were doing it. they ended up giving up becasue he had a tight foreskin. I was standing over ds2 very mama bear ish so i think i was intmidating them a bit but i wasn't going to let them damage my son. ( our hosptial visit was a big hassle and I drove the nurses nuts casue i refused to leave my sons side for any reason. and if i had to go to the bathroom i locked our door--had a private room)

I hope things work out. I would make sure whoever is going to put one in your son has experince and knows what they are doing

[Coral123]

I'd question the need for a catheter at all.  I guess I could see if they wanted to keep track of urine output, but they could weigh diapers to do that.  Or are they concerned with anesthesia causing problems with ability to urinate.

[TyrantOfTheWeek]

Originally Posted by Coral123 

I'd question the need for a catheter at all.  I guess I could see if they wanted to keep track of urine output, but they could weigh diapers to do that.  Or are they concerned with anesthesia causing problems with ability to urinate.

Yeah, they could weigh diapers or place a bag.