Which statement correctly identifies the lumens of a 3-way catheter used after TURP?

Which statement correctly identifies the lumens of a 3-way catheter used after TURP?

• A. It has three lumens: balloon inflation, irrigation inflow, and irrigation outflow
• B. It has two lumens: one for urine drainage and one for irrigation
• C. It has four lumens: balloon, irrigation inflow, irrigation outflow, and medication administration
• D. It has five lumens: all for drainage and irrigation only

Answer: (A)

Continuous bladder irrigation is used after TURP to prevent clot formation and keep the catheter patent while the healing prostate tissue settles. A three-way catheter is designed with three lumens: one to inflate the balloon so the catheter stays in place, one to deliver irrigation solution into the bladder, and one to drain the bladder (carrying away urine and the returning irrigation). This setup provides a controlled inflow of irrigant and outflow of drainage, which helps keep the catheter clear and reduces the risk of obstruction from clots. Other configurations would lack an essential irrigation pathway or introduce features not needed for this situation (such as extra channels for medications), so they’re not appropriate for post‑TURP irrigation.

Continuous bladder irrigation is used after TURP to prevent clot formation and keep the catheter patent while the healing prostate tissue settles. A three-way catheter is designed with three lumens: one to inflate the balloon so the catheter stays in place, one to deliver irrigation solution into the bladder, and one to drain the bladder (carrying away urine and the returning irrigation). This setup provides a controlled inflow of irrigant and outflow of drainage, which helps keep the catheter clear and reduces the risk of obstruction from clots.

Other configurations would lack an essential irrigation pathway or introduce features not needed for this situation (such as extra channels for medications), so they’re not appropriate for post‑TURP irrigation.