Discharge Instructions for Your Suprapubic Catheter

You are going home with a suprapubic catheter in place. This tube is placed directly into the bladder through your abdomen to drain urine from your bladder. Follow the steps and guidelines below to care for the catheter.  

Home care

• Empty the drainage bag before it gets full.  You will need to change the bag several times each day.

• Change the bandage (dressing) every 3 days.  Follow the steps below.

• Shower as needed.  There is a clear plastic bandage over your tube. It’s okay for the plastic bandage to get wet, but not the gauze over the tube.   If the gauze over the tube gets wet, change it right away.  

• Do not take baths, soak in a hot tub, or go swimming.

• Avoid activity or exercise that could pull on the catheter tube. 

• Keep the drainage bag attached to your leg above the knee. 

Changing the dressing

You will change the dressing every 3 days following the steps below.

Gather your supplies:

• Q-tips

• Hydrogen Peroxide and sterile water mixture (Mix 1/2 hydrogen peroxide with 1/2 sterile water in a small cup.)

• Clean drainage bag and tubing

• 4" x 4" gauze pads

• Tegaderm clear plastic bandage

• Tape

• Foam anchoring device

• Plastic bag to throw away supplies

   

Remove the old dressing and check for problems

• Wash your hands thoroughly using mild soap and warm water.

• Gently remove the old dressing and throw it away. Be careful not to pull on the tube.  Never use scissors around or near your catheter. 

• Remove the purple valve from the clear connecting tube and throw it away.  

• Check the skin around the exit site. (This is the place where the catheter leaves the body.)  

  • Look for signs of infection such as swelling, bleeding, irritation, unusual or smelly drainage.

  • Look for any sores next to the exit site. Sores can form around the exit site if there is too much pressure from the tube on the skin.

Clean the site and change the dressing

• Wash your hands again using mild soap and warm water.

• Clean around the exit site.

  • Dip the Q-tip in the hydrogen peroxide and sterile water mixture.

  • Use a circular motion to clean the skin.  Start at the exit site and move outward.

  • Use a clean Q-tip each time.  Do not dip a used Q-tip in the hydrogen peroxide and sterile water mixture

• Fold a 4" x 4" gauze pad in half.  Slide the gauze under the tube where the catheter enters your body.  Fold the gauze over the tube. See Figure 1.

• Cover the gauze with a Tegaderm clear plastic bandage.  See Figure 2.

Figure 1	Figure 2

Change the drainage bag

You will change the drainage bag 1 time each week, or more often if needed. 

• Wash your hands again using mild soap and warm water.

• Attach the clean drainage bag to your leg above your knee.  See Figure 3.

• Stick the foam anchoring device to your skin next to the stop cock.  Place the tube in the center of the foam anchoring device.  Fold the blue tabs up and stick together.  The foam anchoring device helps the catheter stay in place.  See Figure 4.

• Always keep the catheter and tubing straight.  This will help with draining.

• Clean the drainage bag by rinsing it out with soap and water.  Allow it to air-dry.  Keep two drainage bags on hand.  One should be clean and ready for use at all times. 

Figure 3	Figure 4

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by your health care provider.