insertion of catheter

Last reviewed 01/2018

Method:

• empty patient's bladder to prevent it's accidental puncture - drain with a urinary catheter if necessary
• using an aseptic technique, puncture the abdominal wall about 2.5 cm below the umbilicus in the midline; if there is an operation scar, try a more lateral site. Avoid the area of the inferior epigastric artery denoted by a line running from the femoral artery to the umbilicus
• infiltrate with 10-15 ml of 1% lignocaine
• aspirate for gas, indicating that bowel has been perforated; if free fluid is obtained, send samples for culture and amylase estimation
• position catheter tip in the retrovesical pouch
• secure catheter in place

Selection of catheter:

• short term - hard PVC catheter
• long term - soft Silastic rubber catheter (Tenckoff; Oreopoulos)