Wearing a Urinary Catheter: What Patients Need to Know About Intermittent and Continuous Drainage

Patients with urological issues may require intermittent or continuous urinary catheters or suprapubic bladder drainage tubes depending on the severity of their condition. Dr. CCKI Phan Huynh Tien Dat from the Department of Urology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City explains that urinary catheter placement is a common medical procedure used to collect urine from the bladder when a patient is unable to urinate naturally.

Intermittent catheters are typically used for short-term drainage and are removed after all the urine has been drained from the bladder. They are inserted through the urethra with one end connecting to a urine collection bag. Continuous catheters, such as Foley catheters, are placed in the bladder for longer periods and are replaced every 90 days to prevent infection. They also connect to a urine collection bag for drainage.

In cases where regular catheterization is unsuccessful or when a patient has undergone complicated bladder surgery, a suprapubic bladder drainage tube may be used. This type of urinary catheter is inserted through a small hole in the abdomen directly into the bladder. Patients with urethral injuries or those who have just had surgery may require this type of catheterization.

Patients who need to wear a urinary catheter at home after leaving the hospital are given specific instructions on how to care for it properly. Dr. Tien Dat advises patients to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as cloudy urine, fever, leakage around the catheter, or abdominal pain. Proper care and monitoring are essential to prevent complications like infection and kidney damage.

Overall, the duration of wearing a urinary catheter varies for each patient, but proper care and monitoring can help minimize risks associated with prolonged use of these devices.