How do I clean the skin around my suprapubic catheter?
The opening created for the suprapubic catheter is called a stoma. Clean the skin around your stoma every day unless your caregiver tells you differently. The following are directions for cleaning the skin around your stoma: • Gather all the items you will need: • Warm water and soap without lotions or perfumes in it. • Clean washcloth or sterile gauze bandage. • Clean towel. • New gauze bandage. • Sterile (clean) medical gloves. • Trash can. • Remove the bandage and look at the site: • Wash your hands using soap, or use a hand cleaner. Put on clean gloves. • Gently remove the bandage. Do this by supporting the skin around the stoma with one hand. With the other hand, gently remove any adhesive tape by pulling in the direction of hair growth. Throw the bandage away in the trash can. • Look for problems such as redness, separation of skin, red spots and swelling. Report any skin changes to your caregiver. Throw away your used gloves. Wash your hands, and put on clean gloves. • Clean the
