Overview
What is a suprapubic catheter?
A suprapubic catheter (SPC) is a thin, flexible rubber or plastic tube
that healthcare providers use to drain urine (pee) from your urinary
bladder when you can’t pee on your own. Many people think you can
only use a catheter by inserting it into your urethra and guiding it up
to your bladder (urethral catheter). But a suprapubic catheter
accesses the bladder from a small cut (incision) in the lower part of
your abdomen.
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Suprapubic catheters are generally safe and have a low risk of
complications. Many people use them because they’re more
comfortable than urethral catheters. You may also need a suprapubic
catheter because an injury to your urethra makes catheters that
enter through your urethra difficult or impossible to use.
Why would someone have a suprapubic catheter?
Healthcare providers use suprapubic catheters to drain pee from
your bladder when you can’t pee on your own. The following
conditions may cause problems peeing:
Urinary incontinence.
Pelvic organ prolapse.
Prostate cancer.
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Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
Surgery on your prostate or genitals.
Spinal cord injury.
Lower body paralysis (paraplegia).
Multiple sclerosis (MS).
An epidural, which can cause you to temporarily lose control of
your bladder.
Parkinson’s disease.
Urethral stricture.
Inability to pull back your foreskin (phimosis).
Buried penis.
Scarring.
Are suprapubic catheters common?
Healthcare providers don’t use suprapubic catheters as often as
urethral catheters. However, they may recommend a suprapubic
catheter if you must use it long-term or if you’re having urethral
surgery.
What happens during suprapubic catheter
placement?
A healthcare provider may first take imaging tests (X-rays or
ultrasound) around your bladder and the surrounding areas to make
sure it’s safe to place the suprapubic catheter — sometimes loops of
your small intestine (small bowel) rest between your bladder and
your abdominal wall.
Then, they’ll clean the skin of your lower abdomen where they’ll
make the incision with an antiseptic, like iodine or alcohol, to help
prevent infection. They’ll then apply a local anesthetic to numb the
area so you won’t feel much pain. In some cases, they may give you
:
general anesthesia so you aren’t awake.
Once you’re numb, they’ll make a small cut on your skin and place
the suprapubic catheter. Once it enters the bladder, pee will drain
out of the catheter and into a collection bag. They’ll use about one
stitch to help keep the catheter in place. They’ll put a bandage
around your incision to help prevent an infection. The tip of the
suprapubic catheter also contains a small balloon. They’ll also inflate
the balloon with sterile water to keep the catheter in place in your
bladder.
If you need to use a suprapubic catheter for a long time, the provider
will teach you or a close friend or family member how to safely
change it.
How long does it take to place a suprapubic catheter?
Suprapubic catheter placement is quick — it usually takes less than
20 minutes.
How do I care for my suprapubic catheter?
It’s important to keep the area around your suprapubic catheter
clean. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before you
change or otherwise handle the catheter. This helps prevent the
spread of germs that can cause an infection.
Remove the bandage and check for symptoms of an infection around
the area where your suprapubic catheter goes in, including:
Pain.
Swelling.
Discoloration.
Pus.
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Call a healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms.
You should also gently wash the area around your catheter at least
once a day with soap and water. Gently pat the area dry with a clean
towel.
How do you change a catheter bag?
To change a catheter bag, you should:
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Remove the stopper or open the clamp that keeps your
collection bag shut.
Empty the collection bag into a toilet.
Pinch the catheter tubing shut with your fingers and disconnect
the collection bag.
Clean the end of the catheter (drainage port) with soap and
water or an antiseptic wipe.
Clean the tip of the new catheter bag with soap and water or an
antiseptic wipe and connect it to the catheter.
Make sure the catheter tube isn’t twisting or pinching shut.
Wash your hands again.
It’s a good idea to wash your collection bag if you’re going to use a
suprapubic catheter for longer than a week or if it smells. Wash the
inside of the bag with soap and cool water and thoroughly rinse it
with clean water. You can also rinse the bag with a solution of 1 ¼
cups white vinegar in 2 quarts of water to help reduce odors and
prevent infection.
How long does a suprapubic catheter stay in?
It depends. You may only need to use a suprapubic catheter while
you’re healing from a treatment or condition. Once you recover, you
:
no longer need to use it.
If you need to use a suprapubic catheter long-term, you should
change it at least every four weeks.
How often do you have to flush a suprapubic catheter?
It’s important to rinse (flush) a suprapubic catheter with sterile water
to help prevent blood clots from blocking the device and otherwise
keep the catheter clean and working properly. You should flush your
suprapubic catheter at least once a day.
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