A Guide for Intermittent Catheters

Different people need to use intermittent catheters for different reasons. Some people are required to use a catheter when they are having a major operation done. The reason they need to use a catheter is so they do not have to attempt getting up from bed during recovery and making it to the toilet before they go. This can be painful and cause stitches to come apart and a number of unpleasant things. Another reason you might need to use a catheter is if you are having some type of medical problem going to the bathroom, such as your kidneys not working properly. If you are for some reason retaining water and not able to go to the bathroom, doctors might use a catheter to help you urinate and rid your body of waste products and bacteria.

Intermittent catheters are only designed for short term use. This means that when the flow of your urine stops, the catheter is usually removed. This is different from most other types of catheters, especially indwelling catheters. Indwelling catheters are designed to be used long term and are inserted through a person’s urethra up inside the bladder to help empty the contents of the bladder. Indwelling catheters can be very uncomfortable to insert and can put some individuals at risk of getting a UTI or urinary tract infection.

Intermittent catheters store urine that is drained from the bladder in a urine drainage bag. There are two different kinds of urine drainage bags used with catheters. One type of urine drainage bag is known as a leg bag. Leg bags are attached to your leg around the calf area and can be worn underneath a pair of pants. The other type of drainage bag that is used with catheters is the down drain. This bag is much bigger than the leg bag and is primarily used by people during the night when they sleep due to the large volume of urine the bag can hold. Most people who use this type of bag suspend it from their bed.

Drainage bags that are used with intermittent catheters need to be properly cared for in order to get the full use out of them. Bags should be emptied at least every 8 hours or more. You need to disinfect the catheter and the bag regularly in order to avoid contracting a bad infection. The best way to clean the bag and catheter is with vinegar and water.