How to Prevent a Urinary Catheter From Being Pulled Out
Urinary catheterization is performed to monitor urinary output, relieve an acutely obstructed bladder, or even simply to make life easier for a patient who has difficulty ambulating to the toilet. It is an invasive process and as such is not without complications. One complication is the inadvertent removal of the catheter, which can be painful for the patient and even cause physical trauma. Following these steps will help avoid this unnecessary pain and inconvenience.
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Things You'll Need
- Urinary catheter
- Medical-grade tape
- Urinary collection bag with plastic hanging hook
Instructions
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1
Allow a trained professional, using proper aseptic techniques, to place the urinary catheter in the patient.
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2
Double-check to make sure the balloon at the catheter tip has been inflated fully with the included syringe of saline. This inflates within the bladder to prevent the catheter from sliding back through the urethra.
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3
Tape the urine collection tube to the patient using the medical-grade tape, allowing some slack between the end of the urethra and the taping point to decrease stress on the balloon. For females, tape the tube to the patient's leg. For males, tape the tube to the patient's abdomen to decrease stress on the posterior urethra (which can lead to stricture formation).
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4
Hang the attached urinary collection bag in a safe location lower than the patient's bladder, normally on the side of the patient's bed. Position the bag so that it's not tripped over or kicked off its hanging place accidentally. Also, make sure the urine collection tube does not hang down into any trafficked areas, which could lead to entanglement.
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Use care when you reposition the patient. There should be adequate slack between the urinary collection bag and the patient's urethra to avoid tugging on the taped point or the catheter tip balloon.
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Tips & Warnings
Before placement of the catheter, ensure the professional tests that the balloon inflates and deflates fully with no leaks.
If the patient suffers from an impaired mental status or is otherwise confused, it may be necessary to use soft mittens or soft restraints when the patient is left alone so that he does not pull on his own catheter in an attempt to dislodge it.
Urinary catheterization can lead to infection if not properly maintained. Catheters should be changed at least every 2 to 4 weeks by trained personnel.
