Urine Bag Instructions

A urine bag is a collection device often used in hospitals and in home situations where an individual may be suffering from chronic illness or conditions that make regular trips to the bathroom unfeasible. The most common type of urine collection bag is the leg bag, which can be covered by clothing or a blanket. Learning how to properly care for a urine bag will help to prevent embarrassment, but even more so, will prevent infection from a permanent or temporary catheter that drains into the urine bag.

Tubing

• Collecting urine in a bag is utilized through a catheter, which is a long, hollow tube that is inserted into the urethra. The other end of the tube connects to a urine bag. Caring for the catheter is important to prevent the growth of bacteria. In most cases, the catheter tubing is held in place along a person's leg (underneath the clothing) with a thin, adjustable leg strap. This leg band should be placed high on the thigh to prevent pulling or crimping of the catheter tube. The patient will not pull the catheter from her body, but she may be responsible for emptying the urine bag and cleaning the bottom end of this tube.

Emptying the Urine Bag

• Watch to make sure the urine bag doesn't become so full that it pulls on the catheter tubing. Individuals or health care providers should empty a urine bag before it fills, in order to prevent urine from pooling in the tube, or worse, backing up into the urethra. The end of the catheter will be fitted with a valve which may be crimped so no urine flows from the tube when the catheter is removed from the top of the urine bag (most commonly when it is replaced). The urine bag will have a spout at the bottom. The clamp or spout will flip one way to open the drain, the other way to close it. Drain the bag into a toilet, or measure the amount of urine if called for, in a special container designed for this purpose.

Cleaning a Urine Bag

• Rinse the urine bag every day to prevent odor and to prevent growth of bacteria. Prepare a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Care for your urine bag according to manufacturer instructions. Different designs will offer different instructions regarding catheter insertion and mode through which the urine can be drained from the bag.