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Urinary (Foley’s) Catheter Care at Home

Urinary (Foley’s) Catheter Care at Home

By Dr.Ravindra Patil

After some surgeries or after a brain stroke, sometimes a patient is not able to control his/her urinary bladder. This leads to social problems and poor hygiene. So a urinary catheter, called Foley’s catheter is left inside the bladder with a urine bag attached. This information will help you care for your own or your patient’s urinary (Foley) catheter.

Depending on the situation, either the patient himself/herself can manage the Foley’s catheter and bag, or a care provider, either a nurse or hospital trained staff should do it.

You may feel that you should do it for your father or mother, but remember, caring for your close and loved relative involves privacy issues and aversion to the work you are doing. Do it only if you feel confident that you can do it. Nurses and hospital staff are trained to do it. Is it’s not difficult, you only have to follow precise steps.

Table of Contents

About your urinary (Foley) catheter

Foley catheter is a thin, flexible tube placed through your urethra (the small tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body) and into a urine bag. Your Foley catheter drains your urine. It’s held inside your bladder by a balloon filled with water.

How your Foley catheter works

Your urine goes from your bladder and through a drainage tube into a drainage collection bag. The drainage bag stays on your leg with a special tape.

How to take care of your Foley catheter

To take care of your Foley catheter, you will need to:

  • Clean your catheter every day.
  • Change your drainage bags. You will change your drainage bag 2 times a day.
  • Replace your drainage bags with new bags once a week. You should also change your drainage bag if it gets clogged or blocked.
  • Wash your drainage bags every day.
  • Drink 1 to 2 glasses of liquids every 2 hours while you’re awake to keep you hydrated.

You may see some blood or urine around where the catheter enters your body. This may happen when you’re walking or passing stool. This is normal if there’s urine draining into the drainage bag. If you do not have urine draining into the drainage bag, you must meet your doctor.

Penis or Vaginal care

Use a water-based lubricant to keep your penis or vagina opening from getting sore. Apply the gel where the catheter enters your body.

Keep your penis or vagina opening clean by taking a shower every day. This will help prevent infections when your Foley catheter is in place.

How to shower with your Foley catheter

  • You can shower while you have your catheter in place.
  • Do not take a tub bath until your catheter is removed. Taking a bath while you have your catheter in place puts you at risk for infections.
  • You may find it easier to shower in the morning before you change your bag to your leg bag.

How to clean your Foley catheter

You can clean your catheter while you’re in the shower. Follow these instructions.

  • Mild soap, such as Dove.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • If you’re using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover your hands with it. Rub them together until they’re dry.
  • Using mild soap and water, clean your penis or vagina.
  • If you have a penis, pull back your foreskin (the skin around the tip of your penis), if needed. Clean the area, including your penis.
  • If you have a vagina, separate your labia (the smaller folds of skin around your vaginal opening). Clean the area from front to back.
  • Clean the area where the catheter enters your body. This is called your urethra.
  • Clean the catheter from where it enters your body and then down, away from your body. Hold the catheter at the point it enters your body so that you do not put tension on it.
  • Rinse the area well and dry it gently.

When to change your drainage bags

You should change your drainage bag 2 times a day. Change it:

  • In the morning after you shower, change the bag.
  • At night before you go to bed, change the bag.
  • Replace your drainage bags with new bags once a week. You should also change your drainage bag if it gets clogged or blocked.

How to change your drainage bag

You will need:

  • A clean cloth (not one you’re using for bathing) or a 4 x 4 piece of gauze.
  • 2 alcohol pads.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer thoroughly.
  • Empty the urine from the drainage bag into the toilet. Make sure the spout of the drainage bag never touches the side of the toilet or any emptying container. If it does, wipe it with an alcohol pad for 15 seconds.
  • Place the clean cloth or gauze under the connector to catch any leakage.
  • Pinch the catheter with your fingers and disconnect the used bag.
  • Wipe the end of the catheter with an alcohol pad.
  • Wipe the connector on the new bag with the second alcohol pad.
  • Connect the clean bag to the catheter and release your finger pinch. Make sure the catheter is tightly connected to the bag to keep it from opening or leaking.
  • Check all connections. Straighten any kinks or twists in the tubing.

How to take care of your drainage bags

  • Empty the leg bag into the toilet every 2 to 4 hours, as needed. You can do this through the spout at the bottom of the bag. Do not let the bag get completely full.
  • Do not lie down for longer than 2 hours while you’re wearing the leg bag. This can keep your urine from draining the way it should.

Caring for your drainage bag

  • Always keep the drainage bag below the level of your bladder.
  • When you go to sleep, hang your bag off the bed. You can do this by using a small trash can. Place a clean plastic bag inside the trash can. Hang your bag inside of the trash can.

Cleaning your drainage bags

Clean your bag every day. Follow these instructions.

You will need:

  • White vinegar.
  • Cool water.
  • Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Rinse the bag with cool water. Do not use hot water because it can damage the plastic.
  • To help get rid of the smell, fill the bag halfway with a mixture of 1part white vinegar and 3 parts water. Shake the bag and let it sit for 15 minutes.
  • Rinse the bag with cool water. Hang it up to dry.

How to prevent Foley catheter infections

Follow these guidelines to prevent getting infections while you have your catheter in place:

  • Keep the drainage bag below the level of your bladder.
  • Always keep your drainage bag off the floor.
  • Keep the catheter secured to your thigh to keep it from moving.
  • Do not lie on your catheter or block the flow of urine in the tubing.
  • Take a shower every day to keep the catheter clean.
  • Wash your hands before and after touching the catheter or bag.

Your catheter should be replaced about once a month, if it stops working, or if you have an infection.

Samarth Neuro and Superspeciality Hospital has 100+ beds & specializes in emergency surgery for neurological issues/disorders & diagnostics.

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