How to Prevent Catheters From Pulling Out

An indwelling or Foley catheter is a thin tube that is run up the urethra into the bladder and is used to help urine drain from the bladder. It is used when patients are unable to empty their bladder on their own, often due to conditions such as urinary retention or incontinence as well as after surgery.

Things You'll Need

• Catheter anchor strap

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Instructions

• 1

  Inflate the balloon on the tip of the catheter to the proper size to create a tight seal around the urinary sphincter. Often this is done by a medical professional. People who replace catheters at home should check the balloon's integrity before inserting the catheter to make sure it inflates properly.

• 2

  Secure the catheter to the leg using a catheter anchor strap. This is usually an elastic strap that can be adjusted to fit the thigh comfortably. It keeps the tubing in place, leaving some slack to prevent pulling.

• 3

  Empty the urine collection bag frequently to minimize tension on the tubing. Emptying every four to eight hours -- or whenever the bag gets full -- will ensure too much weight from the bag does not pull on the tubing. Be sure to keep some slack on the catheter while emptying the collection bag. To change the bag, carefully disconnect the catheter from the drainage tube to avoid tugging on the tubing.

• 4

  Report chronic catheter problems to a medical professional and determine if a suprapubic catheter might be a better option. This style of catheter is inserted through an incision near the belly button and goes directly into the bladder from the anterior part of the body, which helps eliminate instances of pulling on the catheter from sitting down or from other physical movements.