My Urinary Catheter Passport Looking after my urinary catheter

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1 Feedback We welcome your comments. If you have any ideas about how we could do something better or feedback about positive aspects of the service please let us know. If you have a complaint please let us know as soon as possible so that we can try to put things right. If you prefer not to raise an issue with the our team you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for advice, information and support on Pals.Community@pch-cic.nhs.uk or you can write to: PALS Peninsula Community Health Level 4 Sedgemoor Centre Priory Road St Austell PL25 5AS My Urinary Catheter Passport Looking after my urinary catheter Please let us know or contact PALS if you would like to receive this booklet in large print, Braille, on CD or in any other language. Peninsula Community Health is a not for profit Community Interest Company responsible for providing NHS adult community health services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Registered in England and Wales No: Registered office: Peninsula Community Health CIC, Sedgemoor Centre, Priory Road, St Austell PL25 5AS

2 My details Name What to expect What you can expect from the care you receive to help reduce a Catheter Associated Unitary Tract Infection (CAUTI) GP Community Patient Nurse Address Postcode Name Address Postcode Times Name Address Postcode Times Reason for catheter The continuing need for your catheter should be assessed at every visit from a You, or anyone else should wash your hands before and after handling your catheter An aseptic procedure should be used for each new catheter you have inserted At least once every day, you should be encouraged (or receive help) to clean the catheter w it enters your body and also the perineum (the small strip of skin before the anus); or after passing a stool The catheter and the drainage system should not be broken unless necessary Your catheter should be secured to the thigh to prevent traction inside your bladder Men should never have use a female length catheter inserted Your drainage bag must be below the level of the bladder (during transport and activity) Bladder & Bowel Specialist Service, St Austell Community Hospital, Porthpean Road, Cornwall PL26 6AD After 10pm all calls are dealt with the out-of-hours service, accessed by answerphone through your GP surgery s telephone number. Tel:

3 Introduction The purpose of this booklet is to give you advice on how to look after your urinary catheter. If you have an appointment at your GP surgery or hospital, you should take this booklet with you. The second half of this booklet will be completed by nursing staff to ensure your continuity of care. What is a urinary catheter? A catheter is a flexible hollow tube used to drain urine from the bladder. The catheter is inserted into the urethra or through a hole made in the abdomen (suprapubic catheter). The catheter is then guided into the bladder, allowing urine to flow through it and into a drainage bag which will be attached to your leg. Some people may have a valve at the end of their catheter instead of a drainage bag. What should I do if I have pain or discomfort? Lower abdominal or tummy pain is normal when a catheter is first inserted. If this continues, contact your for advice. When will my catheter need changing? Your will advise you on how often your catheter needs changing and also how to change catheter equipment. It is important to always keep spare equipment in your home. What are the risks with a urinary catheter? T is a risk of developing a urinary tract infection when using a urinary catheter. Its important to make sure that you, or anyone touching the catheter, washes their hands before and after touching. Other complications can occur for up to 50% of people wearing a catheter. These can complications can include: leakage; blockage; blood in the urine; bladder stones and bladder cancer.

4 How do I look after my catheter? Empty the leg bag when it is two thirds full of urine; If you have a valve attached to your catheter instead of a leg bag, you should open the valve and empty your bladder: When you feel that it is full; Before going to bed; First thing in the morning; During the night if necessary; At least every 3 to 4 hours during the day; Before opening your bowels. Replace the leg bag/valve once a week; To prevent infection, disconnect the leg bag/valve weekly; Attach a night bag to the leg bag/valve every night to prevent having to empty the bag overnight. Remember to open the valve from your leg bag/valve when you connect; Close the leg bag/valve and remove the night bag every morning. Dispose of the night bag after use; Make sure that the night drainage bag is attached to a suitable stand (check with your if you re unsure); If you have a suprapublic catheter and t is a small leakage around w you insert the catheter, you will need to dress this until the leakage has stopped. What should my urine look like? Urine should be a light yellow colour. If it s orange/dark brown you may not be drinking enough fluid; You should aim to drink around 1.5 to 2 litres of fluids a day; Avoid caffeine as this may irritate your bladder. Try decaffeinated drinks instead; Some medication and foods may cause discolouration of urine; If your urine is cloudy and doesn t improve after drinking more, contact your ;

5 If your urine is blood-stained or has specks of blood in it, contact your ; If you re passing bright red blood you should contact your doctor right away; Some patients with urinary catheters may suffer from frequent blockages, so may find it beneficial to drink citric based drinks such as lemon and orange. For further information, please discuss with your. How can I reduce the risk of getting an infection? Wash your hands before and after handling your catheter; Wash the skin around the area w the catheter enters your body and the area around your back passage with mild soap and water at least once a day; Men should carefully wash under their foreskin (unless you have been circumcised). Dry the area thoroughly and make sure that the foreskin is replaced over the end of the penis; Women should always wash the genital area from front to back to prevent contamination from the back passage. Be sure to dry area thoroughly; Avoid the use of talc, antiseptic, bubble bath or bath salts and creams. These can cause irritation; Do not remove your leg bag when you have a bath or shower.

6 What should I do if my catheter is not draining or is leaking? Check the bag is below the level of the bladder, particularly when sitting in a low chair; Make sure that the tubing is not twisted or restricted by tight clothing; Make sure that the tubing is not pulled tight or stretched; Check that the drainage bag is connected correctly. Make sure that the straps which secure the leg bag to your leg, are positioned behind the leg bag tube; Urine will not drain if the bag is full. Empty the bag when it is two thirds full; Constipation can stop your catheter from draining. Ask your about eating a healthy diet to avoid constipation; Change your position and walk around if possible; Make sure that you are drinking enough fluid. As a minimum you should aim for 1.5 to 2 litres in 24 hours; If you experience any urine leakage, please contact your ; Check that your catheter is draining well at regular intervals throughout the day; Make sure the leg bag/valve tap is open when connected to the night bag; If your catheter is still not draining after four hours or if you are developing abdominal discomfort, contact your of GP as soon as possible. How do I dispose of used catheter bags? Empty the urine into the toilet; Double wrap the bag (either in newspaper or a plastic bag); Place into your household waste bin.

7 What about sex? Sexual intercourse is possible even if you have a urinary catheter. Please discuss with your who will help advise on the best approach for you. When should I ask for help? Your catheter should remain comfortable and pain-free. However, you should ask for help from your or GP when: You experience acute and lower abdominal or tummy pain; Urine is not draining and you have followed the simple, self-help measures in this booklet; The catheter falls out and you re unable to pass urine; The catheter falls out and you can pass urine; T is blood in your urine; Urine is cloudy, smelly or you have a burning sensation which does not improve after drinking extra fluids; Urine is leaking around the catheter, enough to make your clothing wet; If during insertion or removal of the catheter t is a possibility of trauma to the urethra or any trauma or bleeding occurs, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Catheterisation records All details of urinary catheterisation should be recorded in following section. Completing this booklet will help the continuity of care for you between community and hospital settings.

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