You will have 2 drainage bags and a catheter stabilizer. The catheter stabilizer holds the urinary tube in place and keeps it securely attached to your leg. The small bag is for the day, and the larger one is for the night.

Use the smaller bag for the day

• Attach the bag to your leg and make sure it is not too tight.
• Ensure that the bag is low enough so that the catheter does not twist but remains above the knee. Empty this bag every 2 or 3 hours so it doesn’t get too full.
• Never let it fill more than ¾ full.

Use the larger bag for the night

• At bedtime, the bag should always be lower than your body to ensure proper urine drainage.
• Empty your urine bag into the toilet every morning.

Before going to bed

• Decide which side of the bed to place the bag on.
• Use adhesive tape to secure the catheter tubing against your thigh, which will be on the same side as the bag when you are lying down.
• Leave a little slack so the catheter isn’t pulled if you move during the night.
• Once in bed, position the drainage tube so it doesn’t bend or knot.
• Hang the bag on the edge of the bed frame by its hook.
• Ensure the bag is always lower than your bladder, whether you are lying down, sitting, or standing.
• Do not hang the bag on the head or foot of the bed or on a chair near the bed.

Penis hygiene care

• Clean the catheter-meat region daily with soapy water, then rinse.
• Wrap the penis and urinary catheter with gauze or an absorbent towel to prevent irritation of the glans and to collect excess urine that may leak due to a bladder spasm.
• Securely fasten the urinary catheter to the abdomen to respect male anatomy and prevent urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra).

What you need to know

• You can shower while you have the catheter and drainage bag, unless instructed otherwise.
• Keep the collection bag below the level of the bladder to prevent backflow.
• If there is no urine in the collection bag after several hours, check for kinks or crushing of the drainage tube.
• Your urine may be cloudy at first and will return to normal after a few weeks.
• It is common to have blood in the urine after this surgery. If you see blood in your urine, drink more and reduce your activity level until your urine returns to normal. If you have done this and there is no change, call your surgeon’s office.
• Ensure urine continues to drain into your bag.
• If the catheter falls out before the scheduled removal, go to the emergency room.

Care of your urinary catheter and bags

How to switch from one bag to another

• Empty your urine bag (into the toilet).
• Wash your hands.
• Disconnect the new bag and clean the tip with rubbing alcohol for 15 to 30 seconds, then leave the bag on a clean towel.
• Clean the connection of the urinary tube and your urinary bag with a new alcohol pad for 15 to 30 seconds before disconnecting them.
• Disconnect the urinary tube from the urinary bag.
• Reconnect the urinary tube to the new urinary bag.
• Protect the unused end of the tube with a sterile protective cap.
• Close the clamp and reattach the strap around your thigh.
• Wash your hands.

You should always…

• Keep the caps of the bags.
• Keep the caps clean.
• Cover the tips with caps when they are not in use.
• Cover the tip of the bag that is not in use with a cap.

How to clean your bags

• Wash your hands before disconnecting the bag.
• Empty the bag and rinse it with tap water (use a small funnel or plastic cup).
• Fill the bag with a vinegar solution.
• Agitate the bag with the vinegar solution inside. Hang the bag for 30 minutes.
• Empty the bag and air dry it.
• Store it in a dry place.
• Wash your hands.

Note

You should clean your bags daily. You can use the 2 drainage bags for up to 1 month. You will then need to buy new ones, available at most medical supply stores.

Following removal of your catheter

• Resume your Kegel exercises and adopt good habits to manage your urinary leaks.
• Do not develop the habit of going to the toilet “just in case” and only go when you really need to. Normal is every 3-4 hours during the day and before going to sleep.
• Sitting while urinating helps empty the bladder.
• Learn to tighten your pelvic muscles – as if you were holding back urine or stool – before sneezing, coughing, laughing, or getting up from a chair.
• Avoid consuming too much alcohol, coffee, colas, chocolate, and aspartame, which are bladder stimulants.
• To avoid excessive stretching of the pelvic floor, do not push too hard when going to the toilet. Adopt a fiber-rich diet to facilitate elimination.
• Insert the smallest possible protection into your pants.
• During your voiding training, use a voiding diary to identify bad habits and regulate your continence-voiding cycle.