A suprapubic catheter is a hollow flexible tube (catheter) that is used to drain urine from the bladder. It is inserted into the bladder through a cut in your lower tummy, a few inches below the navel (tummy button). This is done under a local, spinal or a general anaesthetic.
Your catheter will be connected to a drainage system that collects your urine. This is called a urinary drainage bag, and should be emptied when full during the day.
At approximately 2 weeks post insertion of the suprapubic catheter a catheter valve can be attached to allow for catheter clamping. You will receive further advice from your urology team regarding the length of time to clamp.
Once you have had a suprapubic catheter fitted at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the ward nurses will contact your district nurses on the day of discharge to review you once at home and a copy of your discharge summary will be sent in the post to your GP.
You will be given a discharge summary of your admission. This contains important information about your admission and operation.
If in the first few weeks after your discharge you need to call your GP or attend another hospital, please take the summary and this leaflet with you.
It is important you drink at least six pints of water every day for the next two to three days to flush the system through and minimise any bleeding. It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort around the site of the catheter and some bleeding in your catheter bag. However, if this persists for more than 72 hours (unless you are on blood-thinning drugs) or your pain becomes severe then you should visit A&E. If you experience a high temperature or the urine has a strong odour, please contact your GP. It could be a urinary tract infection and you may need antibiotics. A small dressing will be placed on the incision site for a week. A district nurse should then contact you a day or two after the procedure to ensure the wound is healing and that you are managing your catheter with no problems.
You should be able to lead a normal life as far as the catheter is concerned. However, personal hygiene is important to reduce the risk of infection.
- Wash your hands thoroughly, before and after emptying your leg bag and cleaning your catheter site.
- Try to shower every day using a clean cloth, unscented soap and warm water. Dry using a clean towel and pat the catheter dry.
- Clean around the catheter site with water twice daily. If necessary, apply a clean dry dressing (only if there is a persistent discharge from the suprapubic site).
- Try to avoid constipation by drinking plenty of fluids including water (1.5 to 2 litres).
- There are two types of urinary drainage bag:
- Day bag - this is worn under your normal clothes during the day and held in place by straps or a holster.
- Night bag - this is used while you’re in bed. This is much larger and is attached to the leg bag to hold all the urine that drains from the bladder overnight.
- Changing the urinary drainage bag. Needs to be changed every five to seven days, according to manufacturer guidelines. This can be done by yourself or your carer. However, should the leg bag become detached from the catheter or becomes dirty or damaged, a new bag should be used.
- Disposal of urinary drainage bag – drainage bags should be emptied, wrapped and placed with domestic waste.
- Alternate the leg you wear your drainage bag on. This minimises soreness at the catheter site.
- It is important to keep the catheter bag below the level of your bladder, as gravity will help with drainage.
- Always keep a spare catheter with you.
Initially your catheter will need changing in 6 weeks post-surgery. This will be done by the Neuro-Urology specialist nurses in their outpatient’s clinic.
Subsequent changes can be done by the district nurse on average at 6 weekly intervals, depending on the type of catheter used and your own situation. You may also be taught to change the catheter. It is not unusual to see blood in the urine following a change of the catheter.
Further supplies relating to your catheter can be obtained on prescription from your GP and can be delivered to home via a home delivery company. Your district nurse may be able to help with this.
Your sex life should not be affected as you can simply tape the catheter out of the way.
You can swim, as long as the skin around the catheter has healed, is clean and dry and the swimming pool water is treated/clean. Afterwards, ensure your catheter site is clean and dried thoroughly. If you choose to go swimming, there are smaller bags or catheter valves available that are more discreet.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are fit to drive following surgery. You do not normally need to notify the DVLA unless you have a medical condition that will last longer than three months after your surgery and may affect your ability to drive. You should, however, check with your insurance company before returning to driving.
Can wait a few days
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Over growth of tissue surrounding the catheter site (granulation | Contact your district nurse or GP. They may be able to cauterise it with silver nitrate. |
| Urine leaking through the urethra (the duct which conveys urine out of the body) | Ensure the bag is draining. Sometimes this can happen in small amounts despite the catheter draining properly. Discuss it with your GP or district nurse in the first instance You may have a urinary tract infection or if on medication to control bladder spasms they may need to be reviewed. |
| Urine leaking around your catheter | Make sure the catheter bag is not full and is draining. Contact your GP or district nurse. |
Needs attention
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Prolonged pain in bladder or catheter site | Contact your GP or district nurse. You may have a infection or if on medication to control bladder spasms they may need to be reviewed. |
| Blood in the urine | Drink plenty of fluids. Contact GP ASAP or NHS 111 for advice. You may need to attend you’re A& E department for review. |
Immediate
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Catheter has fallen out | It must be replaced as a matter of urgency (within an hour) or the track will close up and it may not be possible to reinsert the catheter. Contact your district nurse to reinsert or go directly to A&E. |
| Urine not draining into the bag | Check there are no kinks in the tubing and the bag is below the level of the bladder. If this is okay and the catheter is still not draining, contact your GP or nurse or NHS 111. |
| Fever; redness/throbbing in the wound; any pus from the catheter | See your GP immediately or contact NHS 111 |
If the catheter is blocked within four weeks of insertion, it may not be possible to change it as the channel between the skin and the bladder will not have healed completely. If blockage does occur within four weeks, it is important that the catheter is not taken out in an attempt to change it. It should be left in place and an additional catheter should be placed into the bladder through the urethra.
Please inform the Neuro-Urology department on a working day using the contact details below.
Neuro-Urology Department
(8am to 4pm)
Telephone: 0203 947 0048 option 4 or 5.
Neuro-Urology/Continence Clinical Nurse Specialists
(8.30am to 4.30pm)
Telephone: 0208 909 5854 or 0208 909 5261
If you require any further support then you can contact Bladder and Bowel UK on 0161 607 8219 or www.
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust aims to provide high quality services. However, please tell us when something could be improved. If you have a comment or compliment about a service or treatment, please raise your comments with a member of staff or the PALS team in the first instance.
Patient experience forms are on all wards or online at www.rnoh.nhs. uk/patients-and-visitors/complaints
This leaflet was designed by the Neuro-Urology Department.
Neuro Urology Secretaries/Clinical Nurse Specialist
Telephone: 0203 947 0048
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Email: rnoh.pals@nhs.net or telephone: 020 8909 5439/5378/5383 The team is available between 10am-1pm and 1:30pm-4pm, Monday to Friday.
Page last updated: 05 March 2025