Bougie catheter is primarily used for:

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Explanation

A Bougie catheter is a medical dilator, a slender instrument designed to be introduced into passages to widen them.
Its primary function in urology is to stretch and open up urethral strictures, which are areas of scarring that narrow the urethra and obstruct urine flow.
The procedure involves using bougies of progressively larger diameters to gradually widen the stricture to a normal size.
This intervention helps to relieve symptoms such as a weak urine stream, straining to urinate, and incomplete bladder emptying.

Option B: Feeding infants requires a soft, flexible tube designed to pass through the nose or mouth into the stomach to deliver nutrition.
Option C: Oxygen administration involves delivering supplemental oxygen to the respiratory system.
Option D: Measuring bladder pressure (cystometry) requires a catheter that can be inserted into the bladder to both fill it and measure the pressure within.

Visual 1: Diagram - An illustration showing a urethral stricture and the process of inserting a bougie to dilate the narrowed passage.
Visual 2: Image - A photograph of a set of bougie dilators, showing the different sizes available on the French scale.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Primary use of a Bougie catheter as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Post-procedure monitoring is critical. Nurses must watch for signs of complications such as excessive bleeding, urinary retention, or infection (fever, severe pain), and report them promptly.
Patient education is a key nursing responsibility. The nurse should teach the patient about the importance of increased fluid intake and how to recognize signs of a urinary tract infection.
Patient safety involves ensuring the correct procedure is performed and managing potential risks like mucosal trauma or the creation of a false passage during dilation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Bougie catheter'.
Recall the definition and primary function of this specific medical instrument. The word 'bougie' is French for 'candle' and refers to a slender, cylindrical instrument used for dilation.
Evaluate each option based on this function. 'Dilation' is the key action of a bougie.
Option A, 'Urethral dilation', directly matches the primary purpose of a urological bougie.
Eliminate the other options by considering the correct instruments used for those procedures: a feeding tube for feeding, a nasal cannula for oxygen, and a Foley catheter for bladder pressure measurement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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