Bard A Guide for Patients

Bard A Guide for Patients
Bard Comprehensive
Care™ Managing
Urinary Catheters
and Drainage Systems
Infection
Prevention
Security
Comfort

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Care Plan
Name
Address
Postcode
Nurse’s Name
Contact Number
Hospital:
Nurse:
GP:
Bard InfoLine: 0800 591 783
Prescription Xpress® Orderline 0800 085 5424
(For Free Home Delivery)
Emergency Number
Catheter Size
Catheter type and code
Leg Bag
Catheter Valve
Bed Bag
Notes
1.

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Why People Need A Urinary Catheter
Many people need to be catheterised at some stage in their lives.
It may be that your bladder muscle has lost the ability to contract
enough to completely empty your bladder. Alternatively, you may need
an indwel ing Foley catheter fol owing an operation, or because of a
health condition you were born with.
Catheterisation is, therefore, a technique which helps people who
cannot control or have difficulties emptying their bladder to get on
with their lives.
People with catheters need to take care to keep their bladders
and bowels healthy. Fol owing a healthy diet and eating five fruit or
vegetable portions daily, as recommended by the Department of
Health, is important. Ensuring that between 1.5 - 2 litres of fluid is
consumed daily, reducing levels of caffeine where possible and
including cranberry juice* every day wil help.
*Patients taking Warfarin tablets - please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
2.

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How Your Bladder And Kidneys Work
Our kidneys filter waste products from the blood to produce urine.
This is passed to the bladder via two tubes cal ed ureters. When the
bladder is ful , urine is passed through the urethra (waterpipe) and out
of the body.
If your bladder does not work properly, sometimes urine can be left
behind. If this urine is not removed it can become stale and may cause
infection and discomfort. It may also cause some back pressure
on your kidneys. Using a Foley catheter, will allow your bladder to
be emptied.
3.

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Urinary Catheters
A Foley catheter is a hol ow flexible tube, which drains urine from your
bladder. The catheter reaches the bladder either by passing through
the urethra, or through a channel made in the abdominal wal , just
above the pubic bone (supra-pubic catheterisation).
Once the catheter is in place a smal bal oon at the catheter tip is
inflated inside the bladder to prevent the catheter fal ing out. As urine
fills the bladder it drains down the catheter into a drainage bag or
catheter valve. You should not need to pass urine in the usual way
when you have a catheter in place.
Male Catheterisation
Urethral Catheter
Suprapubic Catheter in place
Female Catheterisation
Urethral Catheter
Suprapubic Catheter in place
4.

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Types of Foley Catheter
There are different types of Foley catheters which are made out of
different materials and coatings. These are summarised below.
Short Term Catheters
These are only left in the body for up to 28 days, and are made of latex
coated in PTFE†. The new anti infective catheter BARDEX® I.C. Foley
catheter with Bacti-Guard®* Silver Alloy Coating and Bard® Hydrogel
can also be used up to 28 days.
Long Term Catheters
These can be used for up to 12 weeks, they are made from materials
that better resist the build up of encrustation such as hydrogel
(Biocath®) and All Silicone.
5.

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Reducing The Risk of Infection
Urinary Tract Infections And Your Foley catheters
Your Foley catheter is manufactured to the highest standards and is
designed to be as comfortable as possible. With careful use it will
function effectively until it is either removed or replaced (Page 8). One
issue that needs to be recognised is that as the environment we live in
is ful of micro-organism like bacteria and these can sometimes settle on
the Foley catheter or drainage bag and then enter the bladder. This can
lead to the development of a urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms of
which are described in the section ‘When I call for help’ (Page 13). Please
discuss the symptoms with your Community Nurse or family Doctor.
Bacteria in your bladder can sometimes also lead to a blockage in your
Foley catheter.
BARDEX® I.C. Silver Alloy Coated Foley Catheter
To reduce the risk of bacteria entering your bladder, you have been
given a special anti infective Foley catheter which is clinical y proven
to reduce UTIs. This can in turn reduce the need for antibiotics and
readmission into hospital.
Silver has an exceptional y long history
of use in medicine and was considered
to be very powerful before the advent
of antibiotics. As such, silver has been
recognized and utilized by many cultures
as a unique properties metal, due to
its germicidal effects, which kill many
microbial organisms. The BARDEX® I.C.
Foley catheter with Bacti-Guard®* Silver
alloy coating and Bard® Hydrogel can
be used for up to 28 days, after which it
should be replaced.
6.

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Types Of Catheter Drainage System
There are different types of drainage systems to use with your catheter,
these include catheter valves and drainage bags.
Catheter Valves
The Flip-Flo® catheter valve is a tap like device, which fits into
the end of your catheter (urethral or suprapubic); it can be used
whether your catheter is permanent or temporary. The Flip-
Flo® offers an alternative to using a drainage bag. Your bladder
continues to store urine and can be emptied intermittently by
releasing Flip-Flo®, thus helping to maintain normal function of
the bladder.
Many people prefer to use a catheter valve, as it is more discreet and
comfortable than a leg bag and may reduce the risk of infection and
blockage by intermittently flushing the catheter with urine. A catheter
valve increases the options available to you for the drainage of urine.
If you are likely to have your catheter removed in the future then a
Flip-Flo® catheter valve may help as your bladder function is more likely
to be maintained.
7.

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How Do I Use My Catheter Valve?
As recommended by your Doctor or Nurse. You should open your
catheter valve whenever you feel the need to pass urine; before bed,
first thing in the morning (and during the night if necessary) and
at least every four hours during the day, as well as before opening
your bowels.

How Do I Wear My Catheter Valve?
You may find that your catheter valve will tuck into your underwear,
alternatively support it with a catheter retainer strap such as Comfasure®
or StatLock® Foley on your upper thigh.
How Often Should I Change My Catheter Valve?
The Flip-Flo® catheter valve should be changed every 5–7 days, earlier
only if damaged.
Do I still Have to Use a Uriplan® Leg or Bed Bag?
Flip-Flo® catheter valves can also be used with a Uriplan® bed bag at
night or with a Uriplan® leg bag during the day if toilet access is likely
to be a problem.
Disposing Of The Flip-Flo® Catheter Valve
Empty your bladder then remove the old catheter valve and replace
it with a new one. Rinse the catheter valve and place in a plastic bag
before disposing of the bag in the household rubbish.
8.

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Drainage Bags
You may need two types of drainage bag with a catheter:
• Leg bag (e.g. Uriplan® leg bag), which is worn under your
normal clothing during the day
• Bed bag (e.g. Uriplan OneMT®), to be used at night. The
bed bag is larger than a leg bag and is connected to the
bottom of the leg bag to col ect the urine which drains from
your bladder overnight.
How Do I Wear The Uriplan® Leg Bag?
How you wear the leg bag depends on how you feel comfortable: the
bag can be attached to your thigh or calf with a pair of leg bag straps
or worn inside a special Urisleeve® leg bag holder against the leg. The
leg bag comes in three different sizes and four different tube lengths.
Your nurse will help you to choose the one that suits you best.
As the leg bag fills it becomes heavier. Do not allow the bag to become
too full. To empty the Uriplan® bag, firstly wash your hands thoroughly,
open the tap at the bottom of the bag and drain it into a toilet or
suitable container. Close the tap after you have drained the bag and
wash your hands again.
9.

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