General guidelines

If you have an outside catheter:

• Empty your catheter bag before it is completely full.

• Don’t go swimming, take baths, or soak in a hot tub.

• Shower as needed, but keep the tube and the area around it dry. Ask your healthcare provider about the best way to do this.

• Change your dressing (split gauze sponges, gauze, and tape) every 3 days, or as advised by your healthcare provider. Change it more often if it becomes wet, dirty, or loose.

Changing the dressing

Change your dressing (split gauze sponges, gauze, and tape) every 3 days, or as advised by your healthcare provider. Change it more often if it becomes wet, dirty, or loose. Below are general guidelines for changing the dressing. 

1. Gather your supplies

Gather these items:

• A clean drainage bag

• Nonstick gauze pads

• Clear, waterproof bandages

• Scissors

• Split gauze sponges

• 4-inch-by-4-inch gauze pads

• Tape

• Connecting tube and drainage bag, if needed

• Plastic bag to dispose of supplies

2. Remove the old dressing

• Wash your hands well using mild soap and clean, running water.

• Remove the old dressing. Be careful not to pull on the drainage catheter. Keep the plastic ring against the skin.

• Check the skin around the catheter. Look for any redness, soreness, or fluid.

• Wash your hands well again. Use soap and clean, running water.

3. Apply the new dressing

• Cut a round piece of nonstick gauze pad, slightly larger than the plastic ring. Cut a slit in the nonstick gauze pad so that it will fit around the catheter. Place the nonstick gauze pad under the blue disk.

• Fold a new clear, waterproof bandage in half. Cut a hole in the center. The hole should be about the size of the nipple on the plastic ring. Put the catheter through this hole. Apply the clear, waterproof bandage to your skin. If the catheter is attached to a drainage bag, you must first disconnect the bag. Then slip the catheter through the clear, waterproof bandage.

• Place 2 split gauze sponges around the catheter.

• Fold a 4-by-4-inch gauze pad on each side of the catheter. You should be able to curl the catheter once without twisting (kinking) it. The catheter should rest on the gauze and not on your skin.

• Cover the catheter with a 4-by-4-inch gauze pad. Use tape to hold the dressing in place.

• Put a piece of tape below the dressing to hold the catheter. This will also act as a safety device.

• Clean the external drainage bag by rinsing it out with soap and water. Allow it to air-dry well. You should have 2 drainage bags on hand. One should always be clean and ready for use.

Flushing the catheter

• Always wash your hands well before working with your catheter.

• Open the cap and wipe it clean with alcohol. Attach a syringe that is prefilled with normal saline. Do this by turning it clockwise until it's in the locked position. (Your provider will tell you what size syringes and how much normal saline to use.)

• Using the plunger, slowly push down.

• The saline should infuse easily. If you meet resistance, stop and call your home healthcare provider.

Follow-up care

• Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.

• Keep all follow-up appointments. Your provider will need to check your tube once a month. Your provider will change it every 8 to 12 weeks.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these:

• Plastic ring that comes away from the skin

• Catheter that gets twisted and can’t be straightened

• Catheter that stops draining into the bag

• Catheter that falls out

• Skin rash

• Blood or pus leaking around the catheter site

• Sudden pain

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider

• Chills