What is a suprapubic catheter and why does my child need one?
A suprapubic catheter is used to drain urine from the bladder. A catheter is inserted through a small incision (cut) in your child’s abdomen (tummy) into the bladder. The catheter is held in place by a small balloon on the inside or a stitch to the skin. It is often used after operations to urinary system as it allows it to rest while it is healing. Generally, the catheter will be inserted during the operation. In most cases, the suprapubic catheter is only needed on a temporary basis until the urinary system has recovered from the operation. Sometimes, the catheter can cause bladder cramps or spasms, but we will give you medication to deal with this before you go home.
