Remove a Catheter
Two major types of urinary catheters exist, the indwelling and Foley catheters. Outpatients primarily handle the care of their indwelling catheter. About 10 to 15 percent of hospital patients have a Foley catheter. Differences between the two call for alternate methods of removal. With the indwelling catheter, there are two methods of removal. With the Foley, complications arise, which hospital physicians handle. The steps below explain removal procedures.
Instructions
Indwelling Catheter
1. Locate the inflation port on the catheter's side and attach a small syringe.
2. Draw out the fluid using your syringe until no more fluid can be drawn.
3. Remove the catheter slowly by gently pulling it out completely.
4. Cut the balloon port tubing, using surgical scissors, as a second alternative to remove your catheter. Wait for all the fluid to drain before slowly pulling out the catheter.
Foley Catheter
5. Advance the catheter to make sure it's in the bladder.
6. Cut the balloon port at the inflation valve to remove the valve, allowing fluid to drain. If fluid doesn't drain, there likely is an obstruction at the balloon's entrance or along the length of the catheter.
7. Lubricate a fine-gauge guidewire and then pass it through the inflammation channel. Fluid should drain along the wire.
8. Pass a 22-gauge central venous catheter over the guidewire if the fluid still hasn't drained. Remove the wire when the catheter tip is in the balloon and it should drain.
9. Dissolve the balloon using mineral oil if fluid still hasn't drained. Inject 10 ml of mineral oil with a small syringe through the inflation port. Within 15 minutes, the balloon should dissolve.
10. Inject an additional 10 ml of mineral oil if, after 15 minutes, the balloon hasn't drained.
