catheter irrigation

jack · 09-11-2001, 08:57 AM

i have been daily irrigating my foley catheter for the past 20+ years. since april, when i entered nursing home, it has not been irrigated. is irrigation still reccomended.

also, since i quit irrigating i have had to take ditropan to keep dry. i never took these before. is there a link between irrigation and bladder spasms.

SCI-Nurse · 09-11-2001, 05:11 PM

Since about 1982 the CDC has recommended against routine catheter irrigation. This is when we stopped this at the rehab center I worked at at the time. It significantly increases the risk of introduction of bacteria to the urinary tract (esp. in an institutional setting where there are lots of bag bugs) and really does nothing to increase catheter longevity that "irrigation from above" (drinking 3-4 liters of water daily) cannot do. If you are drinking sufficient fluids, a cathter should not clog for 4-6 weeks at least.

Ditropan or some other anticholergic is recommended for anyone using an indwelling catheter to help maintain low pressures which can cause reflux of colonized urine up to the kidneys. It is more likely that your bladder is now more non-compliant (common with aging with SCI) and this is why you need to take it. There should not be any association of leakage and irrigations as long as your catheter is freely draining.

If you cannot maintain a catheter clog free for 4-6 weeks, you may benefit from INSTILLATION (a different procedure than irrigation) of a solution such as Suby G (irrigating solution G) daily to dissolve encrustations. This should not be done unless you have this specific problem. (KLD)

jack · 09-12-2001, 07:05 AM

doesn't irrigation also remove trash-like stuff from the bladder. my does not clog. changed monthly. do you reccomend not irrigating if one is not having a problem with clogging

SCI-Nurse · 09-12-2001, 08:20 AM

As I stated below, avoid routine bladder irrigation. While you may decrease some internal catheter encrustation, you will significantly increase the risk of introducing foreign bacteria and the risk of serious UTI. Changing your catheter monthly is fine. Focus on "irrigation from above" by keeping your fluid intake high. (KLD)

09-11-2001, 08:57 AM	#1
jack Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Caruthersville, MO USA Posts: 284	catheter irrigation i have been daily irrigating my foley catheter for the past 20+ years. since april, when i entered nursing home, it has not been irrigated. is irrigation still reccomended. also, since i quit irrigating i have had to take ditropan to keep dry. i never took these before. is there a link between irrigation and bladder spasms.

09-11-2001, 05:11 PM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,344	Avoid routine irrigation Since about 1982 the CDC has recommended against routine catheter irrigation. This is when we stopped this at the rehab center I worked at at the time. It significantly increases the risk of introduction of bacteria to the urinary tract (esp. in an institutional setting where there are lots of bag bugs) and really does nothing to increase catheter longevity that "irrigation from above" (drinking 3-4 liters of water daily) cannot do. If you are drinking sufficient fluids, a cathter should not clog for 4-6 weeks at least. Ditropan or some other anticholergic is recommended for anyone using an indwelling catheter to help maintain low pressures which can cause reflux of colonized urine up to the kidneys. It is more likely that your bladder is now more non-compliant (common with aging with SCI) and this is why you need to take it. There should not be any association of leakage and irrigations as long as your catheter is freely draining. If you cannot maintain a catheter clog free for 4-6 weeks, you may benefit from INSTILLATION (a different procedure than irrigation) of a solution such as Suby G (irrigating solution G) daily to dissolve encrustations. This should not be done unless you have this specific problem. (KLD)

09-12-2001, 08:20 AM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,344	Don't irrigate As I stated below, avoid routine bladder irrigation. While you may decrease some internal catheter encrustation, you will significantly increase the risk of introducing foreign bacteria and the risk of serious UTI. Changing your catheter monthly is fine. Focus on "irrigation from above" by keeping your fluid intake high. (KLD)

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09-12-2001, 07:05 AM	#3
jack Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Caruthersville, MO USA Posts: 284	doesn't irrigation also remove trash-like stuff from the bladder. my does not clog. changed monthly. do you reccomend not irrigating if one is not having a problem with clogging