Why does urine always flow down the side of the urinary catheter even though it has been left in place?
Catheterization is a common medical procedure that involves inserting a single urine catheter into the bladder to empty the urine.
When a catheter is implanted into the body, it is sometimes possible to experience urine leaking out of the side of the catheter, which can be confusing and
uncomfortable for the patient and can increase the work load of the care giver. The main clinical manifestations include:
Constant leakage of urine from the urethralopening or around the catheter;
The patient may have symptoms such asurinary urgency, urinary frequency, and urinary pain;
And a decrease in the amount of urine in the drainage bag, which is observed to be disproportionate to the patient's urine volume.
In order to make it easier for you to remember, the possible causes of urine leakage from the side of the catheter and the treatment methods are now organized
into a table.
| Classification of causes | Possible causes | Treatment |
| Catheter Problems | Catheter is twisted, compressed, folded, or not the right size | Check the catheter for compression and twisting, the drainage bag must be lower than the bladder, and replace the catheter with a catheter that meets the right size |
| Bladder spasms | Urine leakage due to overactive bladder | Use of anticholinergics such as tolterodine tartrate |
| Obstructed urinary catheter | Inability to pass urine through a catheter | Antibiotics to control infection |
| Urinary tract infection | Causes bladder irritation and produces leakage | Antibiotics to control infection |
| Inadequate bladder function training | High internal pressure | Adjust the catheter type to reduce the amount of fluid in the balloon |
| Problems with urinary bladder | Insufficient or or too much water filling of the bladder, resulting in urine leakage | Water injection should be uniform, to prevent the airbag water injection bias, adjust the amount of liquid in the airbag |
Hypercontractility of the bladder's detrusor muscle | Causes urine to leak out of the side of the catheter | 654-2 Relief of bladder spasms by medications such as oral or intramuscular, intramuscular progesterone |
| Decreased bladder compliance | Fibrosis of the detrusor muscle leads to decreased bladder compliance and causes bladder spasms | Adjust the catheter type to reduce the amount of fluid in the balloon |
| Uncomfortable bladder flushing fluid temperature | The temperature of the douche is too low during the cold season, causing bladder spasms. | Adjust the temperature of the rinse solution to be close to body temperature |
Principles of treatment:
1. Check and adjust the catheter: Ensure that the catheter is not twisted or pressurized and is properly positioned.
2. Replace the catheter: if the catheter is not the right size or there is a blockage, the catheter should be replaced.
3. Medication: Use anticholinergics andantispasmodics to control bladder spasms.
4. Bladder irrigation: for catheter blockage, bladder irrigation or replacement of the urinary catheter can be performed.
5. Infection control: Use antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections and reduce bladder irritation.
6. Appropriate clamping and opening of the urinary catheter: Bladder function training, appropriate clamping and opening of the urinary catheter, to avoid
overfilling of the bladder.
7. Psychological support: Provide psychological support to patients to reduce anxiety and tension.