Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Suprapubic Catheter
Discharge Instructions: Caring 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. You were shown how to care for your catheter in the hospital. This sheet will help remind you of those steps and guidelines when you are at home.
Home care
Shower as necessary.
Change your dressing every day. Change the dressing more often if it falls off, becomes dirty, or has absorbed a lot of drainage.
Gather your supplies
Tape
Soap
Wash cloth
Wastebasket and plastic bag
Dressing sponges (4" x 4") that are cut or split halfway into the middle
Remove the dressing and check for problems
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after all catheter care.
Gently remove the old dressing if you have one.
Don’t pull on the tube.
Check the dressing for drainage. Notice whether anything looks unusual or smells bad.
Place your dressing in the plastic bag and throw it away in the wastebasket.
Now look at the place where the catheter leaves your body (exit site).
Note any swelling, bleeding, irritation, unusual or smelly drainage.
Also check for any sores next to the exit site. Sores form around the exit site if there is too much pressure from the tube on the skin.
Clean the area
Wash the area around the catheter exit site gently with soap and water.
Gently pat the area dry
Don't use powders, creams, or sprays near the exit site.
Place a split 4" x 4" sponge around the catheter. Tape it in place.
Follow-up care
Make a follow-up appointment or as advised.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following:
Catheter that falls out, or is clogged or feels clogged
Stitches that fall out
Urine leaking around catheter
Urine that is cloudy, bloody, or smells bad
No urine drainage
Bladder that feels full or painful
Rash, itching, redness, swelling, or drainage at the catheter site
Fever above 100.4°F (38.°C) or shaking chills
Updated:  
October 17, 2017
Sources:  
Hooton, TM. Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Catheter-Associated UTI in Adults: 2009. International Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society. Clinical Infectious Diseases (2010); 50(5); pp. s625-s663
Reviewed By:  
Brown, Kim, APRN,Greenstein, Marc, DO,Turley, Raymond Kent, BSN, MSN, RN