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.