How to Look After your Urinary Catheter

Introduction

This leaflet tells you how to manage your urinary catheter.

Why do I need a urethral catheter?

Urine (wee) is normally passed from the bladder through the urethra (tube from your bladder). Certain medical conditions or operations may make this difficult.  In these cases a urethral catheter may be needed.  For most people this will only be needed for a short time.

What is a urethral catheter?

A urethral catheter is a small, flexible tube inserted through your urethra into your bladder to drain urine. To stop the catheter falling out a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated (blown up) once it is inside your bladder.  You will not need to pass urine in the normal way.  Your urine will drain into a collection bag. One of your nurses will show you how to care for your catheter before you go home from hospital. A district nurse will contact you at home within 7 days of your discharge.

How long will I need a catheter?

The length of time you will need a catheter will depend on the reason you need it.  Some people need a catheter for only a few days or weeks, others may need a permanent catheter. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you prior to discharge.

How can I care for my catheter?

Your catheter must be treated as a part of your body and will need to be kept clean.

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. To care for your catheter you should:

• You should have a daily bath or shower if possible, using unperfumed soap or shower gel and water to clean the catheter area.  If you cannot have a daily bath or shower, you must wash the area every day using a clean cloth.

• Men should wash their penis well, particularly under the foreskin.

• Women should wash the catheter area first and then wash around their back passage.

• You should then dry the area thoroughly.  Never use talcum powder or creams as these could cause irritation.

Emptying your leg drainage bag

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. You should:

• Empty your drainage bag before it gets too full. A full drainage bag will cause strain on the straps, and will be uncomfortable.

• Do not forget to close the tap once the bag has been emptied. 

• Empty the bag by opening the tap at the bottom to allow the urine to drain into the toilet. A container may be used if you find getting to the toilet difficult. This must be kept for this purpose only and washed with hot soapy water and dried between uses.

Attaching your overnight drainage bag:

When you go to bed, your leg bag can be attached to an overnight bag. This will hold more urine so you do not have to get up during the night to empty the bag.

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. You should:

• Attach the overnight bag to the tap on your leg bag and then open the tap to allow free drainage.

• Loosen the leg bag straps for comfort.

• Always keep the bag lower than your bladder to allow good drainage of urine.

• Support the overnight bag on the stand.

Removing your overnight drainage bag:

On waking, your overnight bag should be removed.

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. You should:

• Close the tap on the leg bag.

• Disconnect the overnight bag and drain contents into the toilet or container.

• Dispose of your overnight drainage bag (see section on disposal of drainage bag).

Changing your leg drainage bag:

Your leg bag should be changed once a week.

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. You should:

• Remove the cap from your new bag.

• Empty your old leg bag.

• Remove your old bag, firmly attach a new leg bag to the end of your catheter.

• Secure the new leg bag in place.

• Put the cap on the end of your old bag

• Dispose of your bag, see section about disposal of drain bags.

Disposal of drainage bags:

• Before disposal, make sure your bag is empty.

• Put the cap of your new bag on the end of your old bag.

• Double wrap your drainage bag in plastic bags and place in your dustbin.

Using a catheter valve:

Some people prefer to use a catheter valve rather than a leg drain bag. Your nurse will show you the different products available and discuss these with you.

Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your catheter, drainage bag or valve. You should:

• Open the valve whenever you feel the need to pass urine, before going to bed at night and first thing in the morning. Overnight you may wish to attach the valve to an overnight bag to prevent the need for you to get up to drain the catheter.  This can be done by attaching an overnight bag to the valve and then opening the valve to allow free drainage.

• Close the valve (in the morning), before disconnecting the overnight drainage bag.

• Change your valve once a week.  This can be done by opening the old valve first to drain your bladder, removing the valve and putting in a new one.

• Double wrap the valve in plastic bags and place in your dustbin.

If no urine is draining:

• Make sure there are no kinks in the drainage tube, which may stop drainage.

• Check all the connections.

• Check the drainage bag is below the level of your bladder.

• Make sure you are drinking

How can I help myself?

• To make sure your catheter drains well, you need to drink at least 1.5 litres (3 to 4 pints) of fluid each day.

• Your urine should be straw-coloured. If it becomes yellow or dark yellow increase the amount of fluid you drink.

• You should avoid becoming constipated, eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals.

Can I have sex?

You can still have sex with a urethral catheter in place.

• Both partners should wash their genitals (private parts) with warm soapy water before and after sex.

• Men – empty your drainage bag.  Bend the catheter along your penis and use a condom to hold the catheter in place.

• Women – empty your drainage bag.  Tape the catheter over your abdomen (tummy) so it is out of the way.

What problems might I have?

If no urine is draining:

• Make sure there are no kinks in the drainage tube which may

• Check all the connections

• Check the drainage bag is below the level of your bladder.

• Make sure you are drinking enough fluids.

If urine is leaking around your catheter, make sure:

• There are no kinks in the drainage tube.

• The drainage bag is below the level of your bladder.

• The drainage bag is well supported

• You are not constipated. You may need to eat more high fibre foods.

If you develop pain in your lower abdomen:

Check that urine is draining from your catheter.

When should I ask for further advice?

Contact your district nurse or out of hours GP service, if:

• Your urine has not drained after 2 – 3 hours and you have long-term pain.   

• There is blood in your urine and it does not clear after drinking extra fluids.

• Your urine is cloudy, smelly or feels as if it is burning, and does not improve after drinking extra fluids.

• Urine keeps leaking around your catheter.

• If your lower abdomen pain continues.

What if I want to go on holiday?

If you have any problems go to any GP or Accident and Emergency Department.  Make sure you take spare catheter supplies with you. Contact your district nurse if you have any catheter supply issues.

Contact numbers

If you need any further advice, or have any problems, please contact:

District nurse, GP (GP out of hours service)

Telephone: 0870 240 6518.

If you are registered with a GP in Hartlepool you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours. Outside surgery hours, you should telephone: 01429 270205

NHS 111 online

(111.nhs.uk) or call 111 if you think you need medical help right now they can direct you to the best place to get help if you cannot contact your GP during the day or when your GP is closed (out of hours).

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