How To Clean Intermittent Urinary Catheters For Reuse

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A urinary catheter, or Foley catheter, is a thin, flexible tube that allows your urine to drain straight from your bladder to a small pocketbook outside your trunk. Removing a catheter is a fairly simple procedure. Nearly people accept lilliputian difficulty removing a catheter themselves; withal, if you experience any significant discomfort, recall to contact your wellness care provider immediately.

1. 1

   Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Make sure you lather your hands and forearms well, and rub them together for at least 20 seconds. This is approximately the length of time it takes to sing the familiar song, "Happy Birthday to You" two times. Follow by rinsing well.^[1]

   • Y'all'll follow the same routine of washing when you finish removing the catheter.
   • Dry your easily well with a newspaper towel, and throw the towel abroad. This is a skillful opportunity to make sure that at that place's a trashcan nearby. You'll need the trashcan for disposing of your catheter.

2. 2

   Empty the urinary catheter handbag of urine for easier catheter removal. Your bag may have a bleed spout that y'all remove from its sleeve, a clamp that y'all open to the side, or an opening that you twist. Drain any urine in the handbag into a toilet bowl. You may also use a measuring container if your medical provider is keeping track of your output.

   • When the bag is empty, close the clench or twist the cap on the bag. This volition forbid dripping.
   • If your urine is cloudy, foul-smelling, or if you notice any sign of red, contact your health intendance provider.

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3. three

   Become into a comfortable position for removing the catheter. Yous'll need to exist uncovered from the waist downwards. The best position to be in when removing a catheter is to lie on your back with your legs spread and your knees bent, feet flat on the floor.

   • You can also lay in a butterfly position. Prevarication downwards and spread your knees apart while keep your anxiety together.
   • Lying on your back will also relax your urethra and bladder, making it easier to remove the catheter.

4. iv

   Put gloves on and make clean the drainage tubing. It is important to wear gloves so that you lower your risk of getting whatever infection. Once the gloves are on, use an booze wipe to clean the connection spot where the drainage tube connects to the catheter. You should also clean around the catheter.^[2]

   • If you are a man, utilize a saline (saltwater) solution to clean the urethral opening on the penis.
   • If you are a adult female, employ a saline solution to clean around the labia and urethral opening. Clean by starting at the urethra and and so moving outward to avoid whatever spread of leaner.

5. 5

   Identify the balloon port of your catheter. The tubing of the catheter will have two ports. One port empties urine into the urinary bag. The other allows yous to drain the small-scale water-filled airship that holds the catheter inside your bladder.

   • The airship valve should have a colored valve on the finish.
   • You may also meet numbers printed on the balloon valve.

6. half dozen

   Deflate the catheter balloon. The small-scale airship inside your bladder will demand to be drained, or deflated, in club to remove the catheter. Your medical provider should take provided you with a minor (ten ml) syringe. This syringe should fit precisely into the balloon port. Insert with a business firm push-and-twist motion.

   • Slowly and carefully, pull the syringe away from the port. The vacuum effect volition pull water from the balloon in the bladder.
   • Continue until the syringe is full. This should indicate that the airship is empty, and ready for removal.
   • Do not pump any air or liquid back into the airship as it could burst and injure your float.
   • Always make sure the amount of fluid withdrawn from the airship port matches the amount of fluid infused prior to attempting removal. If you are unable to withdraw the appropriate amount of fluid seek professional assistance.

7. 7

   Remove the catheter. If possible, clamp the catheter tube with artery forceps or a safe band to go along any urine from flowing out of the catheter while yous remove it. Then, gently pull the catheter out of the urethra. It should come up out easily.^[3]

   • If you feel whatever resistance, information technology ways that in that location is most likely still water in the airship. If this is the case, you volition need to put a syringe back into the balloon port and take out whatsoever extra water like you did in the previous step.
   • Men may feel a stinging sensation equally the balloon travels downward the urethra. This is a normal experience, and not a cause for concern.

8. eight

   Inspect the catheter to make sure it's intact. If information technology seems to accept cleaved or croaky, there may be pieces left inside. If this is the case, contact your medical provider immediately.^[4]

   • If this is the case, do not throw the catheter abroad. Keep it for your medical provider to examine.
   • These syringes are not considered to exist contaminated with biological waste because no actual fluids are present in this line unless the balloon has burst. These syringes can exist disposed of through normal means in a secure, hard plastic container with a hat.

9. nine

   Throw abroad the used catheter and urine bag. One time you lot have removed the catheter, place it into a plastic bag. Seal the purse, then put the sealed bag with your other household trash.

   • Clean up the area where the catheter had been inserted with a saline solution. If at that place is any sign of pus or claret, contact your health care provider immediately.
   • Remove your gloves and wash your hands once you are done.
   • For a hurting-relieving effect, you can apply some lidocaine jelly to the area around your urethra.

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1. 1

   Check for signs of inflammation or infection. Signs of infection include reddening, swelling, or pus around the area where catheter had been removed. Fever may also indicate the presence of infection.

   • Keep to flush the area with warm, salty water. Breast-stroke and wash as usual. While you may have discontinued baths when your catheter was inserted, showers are fine. Now that y'all've removed the catheter, you can have baths also.
   • Your urine should be clear or light yellow. Presence of lite pink urine is too normal for the first 24 – 48 hours following catheter removal, as a slight amount of blood may take entered the urinary tract. Urine that is dark red in colour is a sign of blood, and foul-smelling or cloudy urine may betoken infection. If either of these are present, contact your medical provider immediately.
   • Yous may experience a slight rash on the area where your catheter has been removed. Cotton underwear allows for freer airflow to the area which aids healing.

2. ii

   Go on track of the time when you go to the bathroom. After removing a catheter, it's important to keep rail of your urination patterns. If you have not urinated within viii hours of removing your catheter, contact your health care provider.

   • It's normal for urination to become a little irregular one time your catheter is removed. It's common to notice yourself needing to urinate more frequently than normal.
   • You lot may experience a slight discomfort when urinating. If this persists across 24 – 48 hours following catheter removal, this may point infection.
   • You may also discover that you have difficulty controlling your urine flow. This is not unusual. Go along track of incidents that business organisation you, and enquire your medical provider almost these incidents at your next visit.
   • Proceed a urination diary to assist your md determine whether or not any further steps are needed on the path to your recovery.

3. iii

   Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking six to eight cups per day of h2o will help help recovery of your urinary tract. Drinking a lot of water can help to increment your urine volume while also flushing out any bacteria or microorganisms in your bladder and urethra.

   • Avoid drinking caffeine as it may irritate the float.^[5]
   • Limit your fluid intake later on 6:00 pm. Drinking besides much liquid in the evening may wake yous upwards during the night.
   • Elevate your feet when seated, particularly in the evening.

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1. 1

   Remove a catheter permanently after its use has come to an end. Urinary catheters are inserted temporarily following many surgical procedures. Once you take recovered from the surgery, or the obstruction has been removed, you don't need the catheter anymore.

   • For example, if yous have prostate surgery, you volition generally receive a catheter that can exist taken out 10 to 14 days afterwards surgery.
   • Follow your medical provider's post-surgical guidelines and recommendations. These will exist individualized to your health care situation.

2. 2

   Alter your catheter regularly if you lot need your catheter for a long menstruum of time. Your catheter will but demand to be replaced if you cannot independently empty your bladder. People who get a catheter considering they take a chronic illness or incontinence (a condition where you have a trouble property urine inside) that has been caused by an injury may demand to take a catheter for a long menstruum of fourth dimension.

   • For example, if yous suffered a spinal cord injury that has acquired you to develop incontinence, y'all will demand to have a catheter in identify for a long period of time. Supersede your catheter with a fresh one every 14 days or every bit directed by manufacturer or physician recommendations.

3. 3

   Remove your catheter if you lot kickoff having unwanted side effects. Some people experience complications when they get a catheter. One of the almost common negative side furnishings is developing a urinary tract infection. If you meet any pus near your urethra, or take cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine, you may have a urinary tract infection. Your catheter will take to exist removed and you should talk to your doctor about treating your tract infection.

   • Y'all may likewise notice a large amount of urine coming out from around the catheter. If yous do observe this, remove the catheter. It is most probable defective.
   • If there is no urine draining into the catheter, there may be an obstacle in the device. If this is the case, it needs to exist removed immediately and you should get to the dr. right away. Practice non irrigate your catheter without first consulting a healthcare professional.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  If I tin't withdraw the water. What can I do?

  

  Timothy Sherman is a Registered Nurse (RN) based in Austin, Texas and affiliated with St. David's HealthCare. With over vii years of nursing feel, Timothy specializes in working with adults in a general medical/surgical setting, chemotherapy, and with biotherapy administration. He has also instructed Essentials of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Assistants at Austin Customs Higher. He received his BS in Nursing from Wichita State University in 2012.

  

  Registered Nurse

  Expert Answer

• Question

  What could cause pain while inserting the catheter as well infrequent painful urination?

  

  Timothy Sherman is a Registered Nurse (RN) based in Austin, Texas and affiliated with St. David's HealthCare. With over seven years of nursing feel, Timothy specializes in working with adults in a general medical/surgical setting, chemotherapy, and with biotherapy administration. He has also instructed Essentials of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Assistants at Austin Community College. He received his BS in Nursing from Wichita Land University in 2012.

  

  Registered Nurse

  Expert Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  Hurting is normal with catheter insertion but if you are having increased hurting dissimilar from previous insertions it may be due to local irritation or trauma. With a catheter inserted you should not demand to urinate, or force urine out. Pain following catheter removal is normal until local irritation resolves. Infrequent urination can exist the result of a apropos complication from an infection or arbitration or it could exist function of the normal recovery process following catheter removal. Provide your healthcare provider with detailed information regarding your signs and symptoms.

• Question

  Is it normal to see some blood and clots in the Foley handbag?

  

  Timothy Sherman is a Registered Nurse (RN) based in Austin, Texas and affiliated with St. David'south HealthCare. With over seven years of nursing feel, Timothy specializes in working with adults in a general medical/surgical setting, chemotherapy, and with biotherapy administration. He has also instructed Essentials of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Assistants at Austin Customs College. He received his BS in Nursing from Wichita State Academy in 2012.

  

  Registered Nurse

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  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert reply.

  Following some surgical procedures this is a normal finding. If claret clots are nowadays in the foley bag seek medical attention. Claret clots can obstruct catheter menstruum and increment your risk for infection. Practise not irrigate your catheter yourself at habitation. This is best done in a clean setting by a professional.

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• If you accept a primal venous catheter or a peripheral venous catheter, it must only be removed past a trained physician. Attempting to remove these types of catheters yourself could have extremely dangerous results.

• Go to the emergency room at your local hospital or urgent care provider if y'all notice whatsoever of the following signs: Y'all feel equally if yous need to urinate only tin't. If you have severe dorsum pain, or intestinal swelling. If you accept a fever of 100.1°F (38°C) degrees or more than. If you lot experience nausea and airsickness.

• Lubricant should not be used when removing catheters. Increases risk for urinary tract infections past promoting the transfer of leaner from the skin into the urethra to lubricate distal catheter.

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About This Article

Article Summary X

A urinary catheter is a thin flexible tube that allows urine to bleed from your bladder into a pocket-size external bag. Catheters are fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to remove yourself, but if you experience any significant pain, telephone call your medico for aid. Earlier you remove it, wash your easily and empty the catheter bag. Then, lie down in a comfy position and use an alcohol wipe to gently clean your urethral opening where the catheter connects to the drainage tube. This will lower your run a risk of infection. Once it's make clean, insert the syringe your doctor provided yous into the balloon port, which is the valve with a colored end. So, slowly and carefully pull the syringe away to drain the water from the balloon. Clamp the catheter tube with a rubber band to cease the urine from flowing, then gently pull the catheter out of your urethra. Subsequently you remove the catheter, inspect it to make sure information technology'south intact. If not, go to the doctor every bit soon equally possible then they can remove the missing parts. For communication on how to stay healthy after using a catheter, read more from our Medical co-author!

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