How to Purge the Bladder

The bladder is small muscular sac that sits in the pelvis and stores urine. Every few seconds, the kidneys send small increments of urine through the ureters to the bladder. When the bladder is full, the nerve endings inside the bladder alert the brain and the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax. This allows the urine in the bladder to be released into the urethra and out of the body. Some situations require that the bladder be emptied artificially. In these cases, a urinary catheter can be used.

Instructions

• 1

  Have the patient lie down, with his knees spread and bent. Explain the catheterization procedure so that he understands all that is about to happen.

• 2

  Put on sterile gloves and sterilize the patient's urethral opening. You may also apply a numbing gel to the patient's urethral opening to make the process a little less uncomfortable. Apply a lubricant to the tip. Apply lubricant to the urethral opening as well.

• 3

  Remove the sterile urinary catheter from its packaging and attach the urine bag to one end. Insert the sterile catheter tube into the urethral opening using firm but gentle pressure. Continue to insert the catheter tube until urine starts to drain through the tube.

• 4

  Inflate the catheter balloon, using a 10cc of sterile fluid. Then gently tug the catheter tube until the inflation balloon gives you a small amount of resistance, showing that it is snug against the bladder neck.

• 5

  Allow the urinary catheter to completely drain the bladder of urine before removing it. Deflate the catheter balloon and remove the urine bag from the catheter tube. Gently tug the catheter tube out of the urethral opening and dispose of it.