Urinary Catheter Home Care Melbourne — A Patient Guide

Going home with a urinary catheter can feel daunting at first, but with a simple daily routine almost all patients manage comfortably and complication-free. This guide walks you through the essentials of urinary catheter home care — hand hygiene, cleaning, drainage bag changes, hydration, and the warning signs that mean you should phone the urologist.

It applies to most adult patients discharged with an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter after surgery with Dr Brendan Dias — including after robotic prostatectomy, HoLEP, ureteroscopy with a stent, or for medical retention.

The Two Drainage Bags You'll Use

You'll usually be sent home with two bags that connect to the catheter:

• Leg bag (day bag) — a small bag strapped to your thigh or calf under your clothing. Worn during the day. Empty every 3–4 hours when it is about two-thirds full.
• Overnight (large) drainage bag — a 2-litre bag that connects to the bottom of the leg bag at night. Hangs on a stand beside the bed, below the level of the bladder. Empty first thing in the morning.

Always keep both bags below the level of your bladder. If the bag is held higher, urine can flow back into the bladder and cause an infection.

Daily Catheter Cleaning Routine

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Wash the area where the catheter enters the body once a day with warm water and a mild, unperfumed soap.
3. Always wipe away from the body, not towards it.
4. Men: gently retract the foreskin (if uncircumcised), clean, then return it to its normal position.
5. Pat dry with a clean towel. Do not use powders, creams or antiseptics unless prescribed.
6. Check the skin around the catheter for redness, swelling or discharge.
7. Wash your hands again when finished.

Emptying the Drainage Bag

1. Wash your hands.
2. Hold the bag over the toilet (or a clean container) without letting the outlet tap touch the surface.
3. Open the outlet tap, let the bag drain fully, then close the tap.
4. Wipe the outlet with a clean tissue.
5. Wash your hands.

Changing Between Day and Night Bags

The leg bag stays connected to the catheter and is typically changed every 5–7 days (your nurse will advise). At night, you simply attach the large drainage bag to the outlet of the leg bag — you don't disconnect the leg bag from the catheter itself. This "closed system" approach significantly reduces infection risk.

Hydration and Diet

• Aim for 1.5–2 litres of fluid spread across the day (unless your doctor has told you otherwise).
• Water is best. Limit caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks — they irritate the bladder.
• Eat plenty of fibre and stay mobile to avoid constipation, which can block the catheter.
• Cranberry juice is not proven to prevent catheter infections.

Activity, Clothing and Showering

• Loose clothing is most comfortable. Avoid tight underwear that pulls on the tubing.
• Showering is fine — let warm water run over the catheter and pat dry afterwards.
• Avoid baths, swimming pools and hot tubs while the catheter is in place.
• Light walking is encouraged. Avoid heavy lifting (over 5 kg) and strenuous exercise.
• Always secure the catheter tubing to your thigh with the supplied strap so it cannot be pulled.

Common Problems and How to Manage Them

Bypassing (urine leaking around the catheter)

Usually caused by bladder spasms or a partially blocked catheter. Check that the tubing isn't kinked, that you aren't constipated, and that you are drinking enough. If bypassing persists, contact the rooms.

Bladder spasms

A crampy sensation just above the pubic bone, sometimes with leaking around the catheter. They usually settle within the first few days. If they are severe or persistent, Dr Dias may prescribe a short course of an antispasmodic such as oxybutynin or solifenacin.

Blood in the urine

A small amount of pink urine is expected in the first 24–48 hours, especially after prostate or kidney surgery. Increase your fluid intake. Bright red blood, large clots, or blood that worsens rather than settles needs urgent assessment.

The catheter stops draining

Check that the tubing isn't kinked, the bag is below your bladder, and you aren't constipated. Walk around and drink a glass of water. If nothing has drained for 2 hours and you feel uncomfortable, contact the rooms or attend your nearest emergency department.

When to Contact the Doctor

Phone Dr Dias' rooms or attend your nearest emergency department if you develop any of the following:

• Fever, chills or feeling generally unwell (possible urinary infection)
• Severe lower abdominal, back or pelvic pain
• No urine draining for 2 hours or more, with discomfort
• Heavy fresh bleeding or large blood clots in the urine
• The catheter falls out
• Foul-smelling, thick or persistently cloudy urine with burning
• Redness, swelling or discharge at the catheter entry site

Frequently Asked Questions

Need Help With Your Catheter?

If you have any concerns about your catheter at home, please phone Dr Dias' rooms during business hours, or attend your nearest emergency department after hours. For non-urgent questions or to book a follow-up appointment, contact our practice directly.