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How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - What it is


  1. What is a urinary catheter?
  2. How do I care for the catheter and position the urine bag?
  3. How do I clean the genitalia?
  4. How do I empty the urine bag?
  5. How do I change the urine bag?

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1. What is a urinary catheter?

  1. A urinary catheter is a narrow and flexible tube introduced into the bladder to drain urine.
  2. It allows continuous drainage of urine from the bladder into a urine bag. It is kept in place by an inflated balloon.
  3. urinary catheter

2. How do I care for the catheter and position the urine bag?

  1. Ensure no kinks for tubing AT ALL TIMES (refer to picture 1).
  2. Ensure no tugging or pulling of the tubing to prevent injuries.
  3. Keep the urine bag below the waistline. Lifting above the waistline will cause backflow of stale urine from bag into the bladder, resulting in infection.
  4. Ensure the urine bag is hung and does not touch the floor (refer to picture 2 for some examples).
urine bag position

 


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3. How do I clean the genitalia?

General hygiene is important to prevent infection.

Reminder: DO NOT use powder or lotion around the catheter.

 

For self-cleaning

  1. Have a bath or shower daily.
  2. Wash the area around the catheter where it exits your genital area with mild soap and water at least once a day. Keep the area clean and dry.

For cleaning by a caregiver

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Put on gloves (optional).
  3. Wash the genital area with soap and water, especially where the catheter exits the urethra (refer to pictures 3 and 4 for more details).
  4. Wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning.
for males - washing genital area around the catheter
for females - washing genital area around the catheter

 

4. How do I empty the urine bag?

a. Prepare the following required items:

  1. Measuring jug with units in ml (refer to picture 5)
    required items to empty urine bag
  2. Two-inch micropore tape (refer to picture 6)
    items required to empty urine bag
  3. Urine bag and holder (refer to picture 7)
  4. Alcohol swabs
  5. Disposable gloves (optional)

urine bag and holder

Reminder: Empty the urine bag when it is half-filled

 

empty urine bag - wash hands

b. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after emptying of the urine bag.

 
empty urine bag - wipe drainage port

c. Wipe the drainage port with an alcohol swab.

 
empty urine bag - drain urine

d. Release the valve of the drainage port and drain urine into the measuring jug. Wipe the port with another alcohol swab prior to closing the valve.

 
empty urine bag - close the valve of drainage port

e. Close the valve and wipe the drainage port with a new alcohol swab.

 
empty urine bag - measure amount of urine

f. Measure the amount of urine drained if necessary.

 

5. How do I change the urine bag?

Change the urine bag only when it is damaged, leaking or contains heavy sediments, or when there is no urine flow.

change urine bag - wash hands

a. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after changing of the urine bag.

 
change urine bag - ensure urine is empty

b. Ensure the urine bag is empty (refer to Point 4 if you need to empty the urine bag).

 
change urine bag - clean urine catheter

c. Clean between the urine drainage port and the urine bag inflow port.

 
change urine bag - disconnect the catheter

d. Bend the urine catheter tubing while holding the urine drainage port firmly. Disconnect the urine bag inflow port using a twisting motion.

 
change urine bag - clean urine catheter connector

e. Clean the urine drainage port with a new alcohol swab.

 
change urine bag - insert new drainage tubing

f. Insert a new urine bag by connecting the urine drainage port into the urine bag inflow port without touching the tubings directly.

 

tips on catheterisation

General
Diet

  1. Follow your usual diet, but try to have plenty of fruits and vegetables to prevent constipation.
  2. Constipation may cause difficulty in passing urine. If constipation is a problem, please consult your doctor/nurse for advice.

Fluid intake

  1. DO NOT reduce fluid intake to avoid catheterisation unless instructed by the doctor or nurse.
  2. For adults
    • Drink about 2 litres or 7-8 glasses of water daily.
  3. For children and adolescents
    Drink adequate water daily:
    • 1.2 litres (less than 2 years old)
    • 1.2 to 1.4 litres (2 to 7 years old)
    • 1.4 to 1.6 litres (7 to 12 years old)
    • 1.6 to 1.8 litres (12 years old and above)

Caring for Your Indwelling Urinary Catheter

What happens when there is no urine draining into the urine bag and what should I do about it?

  1. Maintain good urine drainage by checking for kinks or loops regularly.
  2. Make sure the bag is lower than the abdomen and the catheter or tubing is not clamped.
  3. Call us at the number provided if urine is still not draining despite checking for kinks and the clamp. If after office hours, visit the nearest GP clinic or our emergency departments.

Why is there leakage from the catheter and how should I solve this?

  1. Catheter leakage may be due to severe constipation, bladder spasms, catheter blockage or prolonged kinking.
  2. Check for kinks or loops in the catheter and tubing.
  3. Call a home care nurse or go to the nearest GP/polyclinic if leakage continues.

How frequently does the urinary catheter need to be changed?

  1. The frequency of change depends on the type of urinary catheter and needs to be done by trained healthcare professionals (doctors/nurses).
  2. Call nurses from the Home Nursing Foundation, private nursing agencies or visit the nearest polyclinic or GP for assistance.

 

CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE:

  • Difficulty or increasing pain when inserting the catheter
  • Difficulty or inability to urinate
  • Bloody urine (a trace of blood is normal)
  • Swelling of the abdomen
  • Prolonged discomfort or pain
  • Redness of skin around penis/scrotum (for males)
  • Signs of infection such as:
    • Foul-smelling urine, or presence of sand-like grains in your urine
    • Persistent fever of more than 38°C or chills
    • Pain in your lower back or lower abdomen

 

Back to top

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Symptoms

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - How to prevent?

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Causes and Risk Factors

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Diagnosis

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Treatments

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Preparing for surgery

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Post-surgery care

How to Care for Your Urinary Catheter - Other Information

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