A urinary catheter, or Foley, is a thin, flexible tube that allows urine to flow directly from the bladder into a bag outside the body. Removing this device is a relatively simple procedure, but most people have some difficulty doing it on themselves. However, if you experience any pain or discomfort, call your doctor right away.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remove a Urinary Catheter
Step 1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water
Be sure to lather your hands and forearms thoroughly by rubbing for at least 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing the classic song "Happy Birthday" twice in a row. In the end, it rinses the skin well.
- You will need to repeat this once the extraction procedure is finished.
- Thoroughly dry your hands with a paper towel which you will then throw away. This is a great time to make sure there is a garbage can nearby that you will need to dispose of the catheter.
Step 2. Empty the catheter bag that contains the urine so you will have less difficulty during the procedure
The bag should have a drain spout that you can remove from its sheath, a clamp that you can open on the side, or a twist opening mechanism. Empty the bag by throwing the urine into the toilet. You can also use a measuring cup, in case your doctor needs to know how much urine you are producing.
- When the bag is empty, close the clamp or screw the cap that holds it closed. This prevents liquid residues from dripping.
- If the urine is rather cloudy, smells bad, or you notice red traces, call your doctor.
Step 3. Take a comfortable position to remove the catheter
You will need to strip from the waist down. The best position for this operation is the supine position with the legs spread, the knees bent and the feet flat on the ground.
- You can also assume the butterfly position: lie down and spread your knees while keeping the soles of your feet in contact with each other.
- Lying on your back also relaxes your bladder and urethra, making it easier to pull out the catheter.
Step 4. Put on a pair of gloves and clean the drain tube
Gloves are an important detail that protects you from possible infections. Once they are in place, you can proceed to clean the segment that connects the catheter to the drainage tube. You can use alcohol wipes for this. You should also clean the area around the catheter.
- If you are a man, use a saline solution to clean the urethral opening on the penis.
- If you are a woman, use a saline solution to cleanse your lips and urethral orifice. Start at the urethra and move outward to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Step 5. Identify the valve leading to the balloon
The catheter tube has two conduits; one brings urine to the collection bag, the other allows you to empty the small water-filled balloon that holds the catheter in the bladder.
- The balloon duct should have a colored valve at its end.
- In some cases there is a number printed on the valve.
Step 6. Deflate the balloon
This is located inside the bladder and must be drained or deflated to remove the catheter. Your doctor should have given you a small 10ml syringe just for this purpose that fits snugly over the balloon valve. Insert the syringe firmly into the valve by pushing and turning it.
- Slowly and carefully pull the plunger of the syringe away from the valve. As a result of the vacuum, the water contained in the bladder balloon will transfer to the syringe.
- Continue this way until the syringe is completely full. This way you are sure that the balloon is empty and you can continue with the extraction.
- Do not pump air or liquid into the balloon as this could burst and damage the bladder.
Step 7. Remove the catheter
If possible, clasp the tube with hemostats or a rubber band to prevent urine from leaking as you remove the catheter. Then, gently pull the tube out of the urethra. You shouldn't have a hard time.
- If you feel some resistance, it means that there is still water in the balloon. If so, reinsert the syringe into the appropriate conduit and drain the excess water, just like you did in the previous steps.
- Men may feel a stinging sensation as the balloon passes through the urethra, which is completely normal and should not cause concern.
- Some people claim that lubricating the tube with a water-based product makes the procedure easier.
Step 8. Inspect the catheter to make sure it is intact
If it looks broken or broken to you, then some fragments may be left in the body. If so, you should contact your doctor immediately.
- If this happens, don't throw away the catheter you took out, take it with you to show the doctor.
- To discard the syringe, separate the barrel from the plunger and place both in a container that is resistant to pungent and sharp material. Respect the regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste and, if you do not usually use syringes, return the used one to the doctor's office or pharmacy, where they will dispose of it on your behalf.
Step 9. Discard the catheter and urine collection bag
When you have removed the catheter, place it in a plastic bag. Then, seal the container and place it in another garbage bag.
- Clean the area where the catheter was inserted with a saline solution. If you notice any blood or pus, call your doctor right away.
- Finally, take off your gloves and wash your hands.
- If you want to relieve pain, you can apply lidocaine to the area around the urethra.
Part 2 of 3: Make Sure You Are Enjoying Good Health After Catheter Removal
Step 1. Look for signs of infection or inflammation
Symptoms of infection include redness, swelling, pus discharge around the site where the catheter was removed. Fever can also indicate the presence of an infectious process.
- Continue washing the area with warm saline. Bathe and wash as usual. While you may have had to interrupt the bathroom while using the catheter, remember that the shower is not a problem. Now that the device has been removed, you can also take a bath.
- The urine should be clear or slightly yellow. It is completely normal for there to be traces of pink in the first 24 to 48 hours after the extraction, as a small amount of blood may have entered the urinary tract. If the pee has a dark red color, it means there is a lot of blood, while a bad smell and cloudy appearance are signs of infection. In all these cases, contact your doctor right away.
- In some circumstances, a slight skin rash may occur at the catheter insertion site. Wear cotton underwear to allow air to pass through and promote healing.
Step 2. Write down the time you go to the bathroom
After removing the catheter it is important to monitor the urge to urinate. If you haven't urinated within 4 hours of taking out the device, call your doctor.
- It is quite normal for urination to become slightly irregular after the catheter is removed, and it is quite common to find that you have to go to the bathroom more frequently than usual.
- In some cases, you may even experience some pain when urinating. If this ailment persists beyond 24-48 hours after removal, then there may be an infection.
- You may also notice some difficulty in controlling your urine flow. This is not a rare event. Write down each time you have an episode of incontinence and talk to your doctor at the next visit.
- It can be very helpful to keep a journal in which to write down everything related to urination, so that the doctor can better understand if other interventions are necessary in your recovery process.
Step 3. Get plenty of fluids
Aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to help your urinary system return to a normal rhythm. Drinking plenty of water increases the volume of pee, "washes away" the bacteria and microorganisms found in the bladder and urethra.
- Don't take caffeine. This substance has diuretic properties and deprives the body of water and the necessary mineral salts.
- Limit your fluid intake after 6pm. If you drink too much during the evening, you will be forced to get up at night to urinate.
- When sitting, put your feet up, especially in the evening.
Part 3 of 3: Learn the Reason for Removing the Catheter
Step 1. Remove the catheter permanently when it has ceased to perform its function
Urinary catheters are placed temporarily after many surgical procedures. When you have recovered from surgery or the urinary obstruction has been removed, there is no reason to hold it further.
- For example, if you have had prostate surgery, it is very likely that your catheter will be removed 10-14 days after the operation.
- Always follow the advice and directions of the surgeon for the post-operative course. Its recommendations are dedicated to your specific health conditions.
Step 2. Change the catheter regularly if you need to keep it for a long time
If you are unable to empty your bladder naturally, then a catheter will be inserted. People who need to undergo this treatment typically have a chronic illness or severe incontinence (a condition that prevents them from holding their pee) caused by various factors, such as an injury.
For example, if you have suffered a spinal injury that caused you to have incontinence, then you will need to hold the catheter for a long time. Replace it every 14 days
Step 3. Take it off if you experience any unwanted side effects
Some patients have complications related to catheter insertion. One of the most common is urinary infection. If you notice pus near the urethral orifice or the urine appears cloudy, bloodstained, or smells bad, then there is a high probability that there is an infection. The catheter then needs to be pulled out and you should contact your doctor to treat the infection.
- You may also notice a large amount of urine coming out at the edges of the tube. In this case you have to take it out, because it is a faulty catheter.
- If the collection bag does not fill, there may be an obstruction in the device. Remove the catheter immediately and go to the doctor.
Warnings
- If you have had a central or peripheral venous catheter inserted, remember that it can only be removed by a licensed physician. If you try to do it yourself, you run into extremely dangerous consequences.
- Go to the emergency room if you notice any of the following signs: you feel urge to urinate but can't urinate, you have severe back pain or a swollen abdomen, you have a fever over 37.7 ° C, you experience nausea and vomiting.
