How do I look after my suprapubic catheter?
Always wash your hands before and after emptying your catheter bag, or before and after emptying your bladder using the valve. After the operation to insert your suprapubic catheter, you should wash the area around the insertion site with boiled water, which has been allowed to cool slightly. Some people find cleaning the wound with Irriclens sterile saline solution a good method of keeping the area clean. A dressing will cover the wound after the operation and you should keep it in place until the wound has healed. Although not always necessary, many people prefer to wear a dressing around the wound all the time. The type of dressing may vary. A dry gauze swab is sufficient for some people, but using tape to secure it can be problematic due to pubic hair. Lyofoam K dressings (with a hole in them) have proved successful for some people. Do not put any creams or talc around the site. It is better to take showers rather than baths as sitting in water for long periods may delay the wound
