Urinary catheters - what to ask your doctor
Definition
You have an indwelling catheter (tube) in your bladder. This means the tube is inside your body. This catheter drains urine from your bladder into a bag outside your body.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your catheter.
Alternative Names
What to ask your doctor about urinary catheters
Questions
How do I take care of the skin around the catheter? How often should I clean the area?
How much water or liquid should I be drinking?
Can I take a shower? How about a bath? Can I swim?
Can I walk around or exercise with the catheter in place?
What supplies do I need to keep in my home to care of my catheter? Where can I get them? How much do they cost?
How often do I need to empty the urine bag? How do I do that? Do I need to wear gloves?
How often do I need to clean the urine bag or catheter? How do I do that?
What do I do if there is blood in my urine? If my urine is cloudy? If my urine has an odor?
If I use a leg bag, how often do I need to change it? How do I empty it when I am in a public bathroom?
Should I switch to a larger bag for nighttime? How do I change this kind of bag?
What do I do if the catheter comes out or off?
What do I do if the catheter stops draining? What if it leaks?
What are the signs that I have an infection?
References
Boone TB, Stewart JN, Martinez LM. Additional therapies for storage and emptying failure. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 127.
Vetrosky DT. Urinary bladder catheterization. In: Dehn R, Asprey D, eds. Essential Clinical Procedures. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 30.
Review Date:7/4/2022
Reviewed By:Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.
Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.
