Instruction for Care of Indwelling Urinary Catheter What is an indwelling urinary catheter? An indwelling catheter is a soft and flexible tube that is passed through the urethra into the bladder. It is held in place by inflating the balloon end inside the bladder. The balloon sits at the base of your bladder. The other end of the catheter is connected to long tubing and a drainage bag. The urine is no longer stored in the bladder but flows continuously into the drainage bag. This is called “closed system” and it should never be opened unless you are changing a new bag. Catheter
Balloon filled with water
Connection
Drainage tubing
Drainage bag
Outlet tap
Figure 1: A closed system urine drainage bag
How do I care for my catheter? Care for females • Wash your hands with soap and water. • Wash your perineum with soap and water from the front to the back. • Rinse the soap off with water. • Perform it every 4 hours during daytime and after every bowel movement. Care for men • Wash your hands with soap and water. • Retract the glans 1-2 cm down the catheter. • Clean it with soap and water. • Clean away any encrustation or mucus from the catheter and meatus. • Retract the foreskin and clean behind it. • Return the foreskin and glans to its original position. • Perform it every 4 hours during daytime and after every bowel movement.
Cleaning of catheter • You would notice dried crusts around the surface of the catheter. • Gently remove the crusts using a wet hand towel with soap. • Wash along the outside (about three to four inches) of the catheter. Emptying of urine bag • Empty your bag every 3 to 4 hours and before bedtime. • Wash your hands with soap and water. • Wash the outlet tap with soap and water. • Open the outlet tap and allow the urine to flow into the toilet sink. • When the bag is empty, close the outlet tap. • Wash the outlet tap again with water and soap. How to position my catheter? • Secure the catheter to your upper thigh or lower abdominal area using micropore tape. • Leave enough slack on the catheter to prevent pressure in the bladder. • Avoid kinks in the catheter and tubing which might interrupt the flow of urine.
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Do not clamp your catheter or drainage tube.
What to prevent infection? • Wash your hands before and after handling the catheter. • Take plenty of fluids to keep urine flow freely and prevent catheter from becoming blocked. • Take at least 6 to 8 glasses of nonalcoholic liquids daily. • Liquids include water, juice, tea and cranberry juice. • Do not apply any talcum powders. Special instructions • Do not irrigate the catheter. If blockage occurs or it stops draining, call your doctor or continence nurse. • Notify your doctors or continence nurse if any of the following occurs: a) You experience temperature above 37.5°C, chills, lower backache, and/ or leakage around the catheter. b) The catheter is not draining any urine. c) Urine has a strong foul smelling odour. d) The catheter comes out.
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
GRM.TS.05.0817