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Going Home with a Catheter After Surgery | Express Medical Supply | Medical Supply Company
19
Aug
Aug
A urinary catheter is a medical device specially designed to help people with urinary memory and urinary incontinence .
Your beginning catheter will be inserted under sterile conditions in a hospital or a healthcare center. If the catheter is required due to surgery, most people will leave the hospital with a urinary Foley catheter in place .
While at first having a catheter might seem overwhelm and jumble, know that it will soon become a normal part of casual life. here ’ s what you should know about going home with your new urinary device .
What Is a Urinary Catheter?
A urinary catheter is a dilute tube that is inserted into the bladder either via the urethra ( urethral catheter ) or through a modest opening in the lower abdomen ( suprapubic catheter ). The catheter allows urine to flow through it and drain into a gutter or a urine collection bag.
The bladder is a hollow electric organ that stores urine. If it isn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate emptied by rights, urine build-up can put extra pressure on the kidneys, resulting in serious health complications like kidney bankruptcy .
For many patients, a urine catheter is only necessary until they are able to go back to urinating naturally. In cases of serious illness or permanent injury, however, a catheter may be required for a longer period of time .
Reasons You Might Need a Catheter After Surgery
urinary catheters can be inserted for a diverseness of reasons such as injuries to the urethra, enlarged prostate gland, nerve damage, urethral blockage, and bladder weakness .
A catheter is sometimes needed after surgery, often due to prostatectomy or surgery in the genital area .
Prostatectomy is a surgical routine for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia. It involves the partial or arrant removal of the prostate gland. After operating room, men will need to use a urinary catheter for at least 5 days. If there are any complications, the catheter may be used on a longer-term basis .
If you have undergo surgery in the genital area, your doctor will likely insert a urinary catheter to prevent urine dissoluteness. The length of treatment depends on the type of surgery, convalescence time, and whether any complications exist .
Different Types of Catheters
different catheter types match diverse checkup conditions and lifestyles. If you think you need to use a catheter – or are not satisfied with your current device – consult your doctor or nurse about the option that will work good for you .
Straight Catheter
A directly catheter is an intermittent device that can be used before or after surgery, arsenic well as during birth. intermittent catheters are disposable and mean for short-run use only. They are inserted into the bladder via the urethra and – once the bladder is drained – the catheter is thrown off .
A square catheter is characterized by a bare, straight design. The interpolation tip of the device has little holes ( eyelets ) that allow urine to flow directly into a toilet or container .
Coude Catheter
A coude catheter is a device with a slenderly curved or angled tiptoe. These are primarily used by men who have difficulty inserting a straight-tip catheter. Coude-tip catheters may be needed due to an elaborate prostate gland, delusive passages, or urethral stricture .
Coude catheters are typically designed to be single-use intermittent catheters .
Foley Catheter
A Foley catheter ( besides referred to as an indwelling catheter ) is a hollow, flexible tube that allows urine to drain continuously. It is pushed up the urethra until it reaches the bladder, where the balloon is inflated. This ballon helps keep the Foley tube in stead .
The other end of the catheter is connected to a urine drain bag. Once the device is inserted in the bladder, urine flows through the tube and into the bag .
The routine of inserting the catheter is performed at a hospital or healthcare center. This type of catheter normally remains in the bladder long-run .
Suprapubic Catheter
A suprapubic catheter is a hollow, flexible tube that is inserted into the bladder via an abdominal incision ( normally a few inches below the navel ). This type of catheter is inserted by a healthcare professional in a hospital .
Suprapubic catheters are normally used when there is urethral damage, or if the patient can not /does not want to use a urethral catheter.
Condom Catheter
A condom catheter ( besides known as an external or Texas catheter ) is a less-invasive urinary dissoluteness treatment for men. It is a thin, compromising sheath placed over the penis, like to a condom .
Reasons to use a condom catheter include limited access to a toilet ( ascribable to conditions such as decreased mobility or impair vision ), uncontrollable urinary importunity, and sphincter damage due to a prostatectomy .
How to Care for Your Catheter at Home
When you leave the hospital, your nurse or doctor should provide everything you need to continue catheter self-care at home .
If you are using an intermittent catheter know that these devices are designed to be disposed of after just one consumption, therefore no extra care is required. Some patients choose to clean and reuse intermittent devices, however, this increases the gamble of infections and urethral trauma. Unless recommended by a doctor, intermittent catheters should not be cleaned and reused at home .
If you have an indwelling, suprapubic, or condom catheter, you will likely be required to use a urine solicitation udder. It is crucial that the bag is securely strapped to your lower leg or second joint. To prevent the catheter from being pulled out, secure the tube to your second joint using aesculapian videotape or a special device called a Bard Statlock .
To empty your leg cup of tea, simply remove the cap, open the clamp, and let the urine enfeeble into a gutter. To prevent infection, do not touch the drain port or let the port touch the toilet .
Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
A few days after your surgery, you may notice that your bladder has become more medium. It is sensible to limit the consumption of foods and drinks that can cause bladder annoyance ( e.g. alcoholic beverages, coffee bean, carbonated drinks, lemon juice, hot food ) .
How to Clean Your Catheter
If you have a Foley or suprapubic catheter, do not try to remove or change it yourself. If you experience any difficulties, be sure to call your treating doctor .
It ’ randomness essential to keep your catheter and the surrounding bark clean. As you clean the area around your catheter, look out for signs of infection around the urethral open. Contact your breastfeed or doctor if you notice any red, plutonium, swelling, or pain .
For Men
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- If uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin of the penis.
- Using soapy water and a washcloth, begin cleaning the area around the urethral opening.
- Be careful to wipe from the tip of the penis downward to prevent spreading germs and bacteria into the urethra.
- Gently hold the catheter and wash the rest of the device, moving down towards the leg bag. Never clean from the bottom of the catheter up towards the genitals.
- Completely rinse any soap off your genital area. Ensure that there is no soap residue left behind.
- Pat the area dry with a clean towel.
For Women
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Using one hand, open the labia and locate the urethral opening.
- Clean the urethra area using soapy water and a washcloth. Be sure to wipe back towards the anus to help stop bacteria and germs from entering the urethra.
- Wash the rest of the catheter, moving down towards the leg bag. Never clean from the bottom of the catheter up towards the genitals.
- Rinse off any soap residue.
- Pat the area dry using a clean towel.
Should You Use a Different Catheter at Night?
In general, if you have an indwelling or a suprapubic catheter, you will not need to change the urinary device. In most cases, however, you will have to regularly change the urine collection bag .
There are two main types of urine solicitation bags : branch bags and night drain bags. A peg bulge is attached to the leg that can be worn during the day. A nox drain bag is a larger bag that should be connected to your catheter before going to bed .
The leg udder should be emptied whenever it gets half full. For most people, this is every three to four hours .
A night drain bag holds more urine and is meant to be used overnight. If you spend a lot of meter sitting or lying down, your nurse or doctor may recommend using a night drain bag during the sidereal day .
How to Change a Leg Bag to a Night Drainage Bag
- First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, clean the tip of the night drainage bag.
- To prevent leaks, pinch the catheter tube before disconnecting the leg bag from the device.
- Remove the leg bag and connect the night bag to the catheter tubing.
- Wash and clean the leg bag with soapy water and hang to dry.
Risks of Using a Catheter
many people use a catheter without experiencing any good complications. Common risks of using catheters include infections ( e.g. urinary tract infections ), lineage in the urine, and bladder spasms .
Contact a medical facility or your treat doctor if :
- Urine leaks around the catheter
- Urine stops draining from the catheter
- You notice cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- You see blood or mucus in the urine
- You have a fever (101° F) and/or abdominal pain
- The skin around the catheter becomes red and irritated
Best Place to Get A Catheter
urinary catheters come in a assortment of sizes, materials, and styles. There international relations and security network ’ t a one-size-fits-all device, so you might need to try different catheters before finding the best one for you .
At ExMed, you ’ ll find a wide choice of timbre catheter products and accessories from leading manufacturers like Coloplast, Hollister, Bard, Convatec, and more !
learn more about urinary catheters and how to care for them via our blog !
