Urinary catheters are used to drain urine from the bladder when a person cannot urinate naturally on his or her own. If you have certain medical conditions or you’ve just undergone surgery, you may need to use a urinary catheter long or short term. Urine collection bags are used to collect and hold urine that drains through the catheter.
Draining a urine collection bag needs to be done on a regular basis. Bags should be drained whenever they are half-full, and also before going to bed. You’ll likely need to drain your collection bag at least every 7 or 8 hours, but you may need to do so more frequently. With some practice, most people become very efficient at draining urine collection bags.
It’s important to wash you hands thoroughly with soap and water before draining your own collection bag as well as after finishing the task. Some people prefer to wear gloves when emptying drainage bags. If someone else is helping you drain your urine collection bag, that person should wear sterile, disposable gloves. This can help prevent catheter related urinary tract infections from developing.
There are two types of urine collection bags or devices you may use at home. A leg drainage bag is a small bag that attaches to the leg with elastic bands. These discreet bags are easy to empty directly into the toilet. They are often worn during the day.
Some patients need to use a larger urine drainage device during the night. A down drain is placed on the floor near the bed or may be hung to the side of the bed during sleep.
Regardless of which type of urine collection bag you are using, it is important that the bag stays at a height below the bladder. This will prevent urine from flowing back into the bladder.