Super Pubic Catheter

Monte · 09-18-2001, 02:24 PM

Can anyone that has one tell me the positives and negatives compared to an indwelling? Does it get in the way while having sex?

Scorpion · 09-18-2001, 03:20 PM

A buddy of mine has a suprapubic catheter and swears by it. The stoma (hole) comes out on the right-side of his belly just above the beltline I believe. I think he has to irrigate it every so often with saline solution or something. I don't think it gets in the way of sex, but I didn't ask him. I think infections aren't as common with a suprapubic, but I'm not sure. One advantage over the Foley, in my opinion, is that you don't have a rubber tube irritating the urethra constantly. My buddy had to get the SP because the foley actually wore a fistula in the urethra, and his scrotum filled with urine--yikes!

~Rus

"Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo

Carl R · 09-18-2001, 04:13 PM

I have a SP catheter and am not sure what I would do without it. I have never had any problems other than the area around it needs to be kept clean. It gets irritated every once in awhile, but has not been a problem. It is a little bit sensitive around the area where it goes in to my stomach occasionally causing my blood pressure to rise when the tube is moved or pulled.

KLD · 09-18-2001, 05:45 PM

The main advantages of a SP vs. a urethral indwelling catheter are:

1) less damage to the urethra (strictures, diverticuli, fistulas, patulous [stretched out] urethra)with a SP.

2) less interference with genital sexual activity (in men esp.)with a SP vs. a urethral catheter.

I have never seen a SP that came out of the abdomen at the belly button level or to the side...it should be just above the pubic bone in the mid-line. Suspect the person you know has some type of urinary ostomy instead.

The risks for UTI, stones, bladder cancer, etc. are the same for urethral vs. SP indwelling catheters. The SP can be temporary if desired. If you have one, be sure the placement is correct or you can have problems with drainage (have it done by an SCI experienced urologist).

Scorpion · 09-18-2001, 08:19 PM

KLD, I didn't actually see the suprapubic stoma, just assumed it was up higher than the belt-line. I guess I assumed it would get pinched if it were lower, but it probably wouldn't drain well if it was up that high, huh?

~Rus

"Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo

Wise Young · 09-20-2001, 09:23 AM

A suprapubic catheter is, by definition, inserted just above the pubis. It must be low because that is where the bladder is and the catheter goes directly into the bladder.

Intestinal conduits for the ureters involve using a piece of the intestine as a reservoir for collecting and delivering the urine ot the stoma. There are a variety of surgical procedures.

BJ · 09-21-2001, 07:12 PM

My husband has had a supertube for 27 of the 28 years he's been injured. It is low enough to be out of the way of clothing. I think KLD and Wise answered the medical part. But for the spouse part NO it is not in the way for sex. I just have to be careful not to roll on the tubing to the night bag. It is a little uncomfortable.

Monte · 09-22-2001, 12:52 PM

Thanks for all the replies.
One other thing I was wondering about....anyone have any problems bypassing with a SP...as of now I have never bypassed with an indwelling and really don't want that problem.

Carl R · 09-22-2001, 04:45 PM

not sure what you mean by " bypassed ". A couple of times the SP tube has gotten stopped up, and I just went ahead and cathed. Once or twice, I also voided when the cath was stopped up. All of these happen to me within the first month or so after leaving the hospital, before I knew how any of this stuff worked. Except for making sure that it stays clean and irrigating one time per day, it's relatively maintenance free. I change my tube every six weeks.

dj ability · 07-01-2007, 10:50 PM

Hi my name is Chris Benedict and my urologist seys that I need an SP tube but my dad seys no becouse he seys that it's an open woond and it might get infeced or a UTI what shood I do or say, Thanks

09-18-2001, 02:24 PM	#1
Monte Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 84	Super Pubic Catheter Can anyone that has one tell me the positives and negatives compared to an indwelling? Does it get in the way while having sex?

09-18-2001, 05:45 PM	#4
KLD Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: California Posts: 866	SP vs. urethral The main advantages of a SP vs. a urethral indwelling catheter are: 1) less damage to the urethra (strictures, diverticuli, fistulas, patulous [stretched out] urethra)with a SP. 2) less interference with genital sexual activity (in men esp.)with a SP vs. a urethral catheter. I have never seen a SP that came out of the abdomen at the belly button level or to the side...it should be just above the pubic bone in the mid-line. Suspect the person you know has some type of urinary ostomy instead. The risks for UTI, stones, bladder cancer, etc. are the same for urethral vs. SP indwelling catheters. The SP can be temporary if desired. If you have one, be sure the placement is correct or you can have problems with drainage (have it done by an SCI experienced urologist).

09-21-2001, 07:12 PM	#7
BJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 101	Super Pubic Cath My husband has had a supertube for 27 of the 28 years he's been injured. It is low enough to be out of the way of clothing. I think KLD and Wise answered the medical part. But for the spouse part NO it is not in the way for sex. I just have to be careful not to roll on the tubing to the night bag. It is a little uncomfortable.

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09-18-2001, 03:20 PM	#2
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,597	A buddy of mine has a suprapubic catheter and swears by it. The stoma (hole) comes out on the right-side of his belly just above the beltline I believe. I think he has to irrigate it every so often with saline solution or something. I don't think it gets in the way of sex, but I didn't ask him. I think infections aren't as common with a suprapubic, but I'm not sure. One advantage over the Foley, in my opinion, is that you don't have a rubber tube irritating the urethra constantly. My buddy had to get the SP because the foley actually wore a fistula in the urethra, and his scrotum filled with urine--yikes! ~Rus "Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo

09-18-2001, 04:13 PM	#3
Carl R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, Tx. USA Posts: 1,888	I have a SP catheter and am not sure what I would do without it. I have never had any problems other than the area around it needs to be kept clean. It gets irritated every once in awhile, but has not been a problem. It is a little bit sensitive around the area where it goes in to my stomach occasionally causing my blood pressure to rise when the tube is moved or pulled.

09-18-2001, 08:19 PM	#5
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,597	KLD, I didn't actually see the suprapubic stoma, just assumed it was up higher than the belt-line. I guess I assumed it would get pinched if it were lower, but it probably wouldn't drain well if it was up that high, huh? ~Rus "Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo

09-20-2001, 09:23 AM	#6
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	A suprapubic catheter is, by definition, inserted just above the pubis. It must be low because that is where the bladder is and the catheter goes directly into the bladder. Intestinal conduits for the ureters involve using a piece of the intestine as a reservoir for collecting and delivering the urine ot the stoma. There are a variety of surgical procedures.

09-22-2001, 12:52 PM	#8
Monte Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 84	Thanks for all the replies. One other thing I was wondering about....anyone have any problems bypassing with a SP...as of now I have never bypassed with an indwelling and really don't want that problem.

09-22-2001, 04:45 PM	#9
Carl R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, Tx. USA Posts: 1,888	not sure what you mean by " bypassed ". A couple of times the SP tube has gotten stopped up, and I just went ahead and cathed. Once or twice, I also voided when the cath was stopped up. All of these happen to me within the first month or so after leaving the hospital, before I knew how any of this stuff worked. Except for making sure that it stays clean and irrigating one time per day, it's relatively maintenance free. I change my tube every six weeks.

07-01-2007, 10:50 PM	#10
dj ability Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Hi my name is Chris Benedict and my urologist seys that I need an SP tube but my dad seys no becouse he seys that it's an open woond and it might get infeced or a UTI what shood I do or say, Thanks