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Surgical patients will have a tube that was placed under the skin into your bladder at the time of surgery. This tube will drain urine from the bladder into a bag. When you go home you will need to know how to care for the tube, empty the bag and the clamping procedure to prepare for the removal of the tube.
The skin around the tube should be cleaned once a day. This can be done with clean warm water. The drainage bag should be lower than the insertion site of the tube. When using the leg bag, it should be fastened around the lower thigh. The tube drains by gravity and proper positioning will promote drainage.
The following equipment should be given to you upon discharge from the hospital:
Before leaving the hospital, you should begin clamping the tube at regular intervals. This will help you to regain normal bladder function and allow for removal of the tube.
Initially, you may find that the volume of urine drained from the bag is larger than the amount you were able to urinate. Do not be discouraged. It takes time for bladder function to return to normal. Gradually, you will be able to tolerate the tube clamped for longer periods of time and the volume you urinate will be larger than the residual urine drained from the tube after urinating. When the volume left in the bladder after urinating is less than 100cc, you can have the tube removed. Please call 617-632-3669 to set up an appointment for removal of the tube.
The tube is removed in the office. There is an external stitch and an internal small balloon that holds the catheter in place. The stitch is removed and then the balloon is deflated before the tube is pulled out. The opening from the tube may take a few days to close completely. It is not unusual to drain a small amount of urine from this area. You can cover the opening with a small piece of gauze.
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