Catheter problems

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 21, 2005

Depending on where the colostomy is can also make gas and leakage more of a problem. Changes in diet, good skin care, bag deoderant, and adequate fluid intake come to mind. I am sort of stumped regarding the catheter, but a 30 French is a whopping catheter, does he have spasms? Has he been checked for fistula's, stricture, even tears? Need a little more info.

shammy · Jul 21, 2005

Have you asked the MD about something for spasms.... that would help with the leaking possibly. At least it has in my experience.

Also read an article that said going bigger in size often aggrevates the bladder causing more leaking.... what size cath does he use? Not the balloon size which is 30cc

As for the clogs... maybe a all silicone cath instead of a silcoated cath.

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2005

Hi. I have used a couple of 81mg ASAs in the colostomy bag to cut down on odor. I think you can also get some charcoal tablets (pharmacy should know). Does your dad have a retention problem or is the cath for skin breakdown prevention d/t incontinence? If so maybe a condom cath. If he has to have an indwelling, though, I can tell you I had a similar prob w/ a pt. Urine full of sediment and the catheter was constantly getting clogged w/ leaking around the catheter. Turned out (for him) that increasing his fluid intake by 500cc+ a day really made a difference. For your dad, as a last resort, a triple lumen that would allow you to irrigate a couple times a day may be helpful. I hope some of this helps. Hang in there.

katwoman7755 · Jul 21, 2005

possibly Renacidin flushes for the catheter...I know that has helped with some pt's who had alot of problems due to sediment

suzanne4, RN · Jul 21, 2005

Depending on where the colostomy is can also make gas and leakage more of a problem. Changes in diet, good skin care, bag deoderant, and adequate fluid intake come to mind. I am sort of stumped regarding the catheter, but a 30 French is a whopping catheter, does he have spasms? Has he been checked for fistula's, stricture, even tears? Need a little more info.

Thirty cc balloon, not catheter size. This is used to prevent leakage at times.

Usually found on 18 fr catheters and up.. Also seen on s/p radical prostatectomy patients some times.

mommatrauma, RN · Jul 21, 2005

For the ostomy, they actually sell a blue liquid "deodorant" of sorts for the smell...works wonders! As for the catheter leaking...many things can cause it...most commonly infection, blockage, and bladder spasms...bladder spasms are very common after prostate surgery or any kind of bladder surgery..you can also get involuntary spasms from too large a catheter with too large a balloon...inserting larger catheters worsens the problem because of the increase in irritation it causes... also the difficulty inserting them could be because of how many he has had inserted...it is more irritating therefore maybe be causing swelling and making it harder to pass

CharlieRN · Jul 21, 2005

It's been on the order of 20 years since I did cathcare. Do they still irrigate catheters on a regular basis? Irrigation with either sterile h2o or saline was daily care standard years ago. The object was to keep the cath patent, but there was then a question of increasing the risk of infection.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jul 21, 2005

make sure the home health aide is not venting the gas from the colostomy by pricking the bag with a lancet - seems to be an "old school" intervention, but in the end only causes a pin hole that can create leaks and an odor when the bag is filled with gas.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 21, 2005

I realized she was referring to 30 cc balloon after I had clicked postit. But the ideas still are worth trying.

Yes, even some 16 Fr catheter have 30 cc balloons too.

Bird2 · Jul 22, 2005

I'm so sorry that he has all these problems. Does he truly need the catheter? It puts him at such a high risk for infections. I've had 4 pts recently that everyone swore they could not be w/o the cath d/t retention and we did a trial w/o and bladder scanned frequently during the trial period. 3 out of the 4 did not need the caths. The last I read that the foley size was suppose to be decreased if there was leakage etc but truthfully I have never been sucessful with this method. Good luck. Let us know if you find something that works for your Dad.

LisaG21 · Jul 22, 2005

hey guys

Sorry I haven't been back here since I posted my life is sooooooo extremely hectic lol. My dad does need the catheter, he has retention. He is a parapeligic they think some form of MS but they don't know cause its so hard to diagnose. He has spasms but they are his legs that are spasing, I don't think his bladder does, he takes baclofen a lot a day (great medical terms lol) I am not sure the tubing size, I would assume an 18. He does have an infection now and that is the cause of the mucus and sediment but he always has problems with it even without the infection lol. I will tell him to increase his fluids. He drinks probably 2-3 liters of water a day. He also has CHF lol so he is kinda restricted too.

As for the colostomy. We are going to a wedding tomorrow and I am just begging God that it doesn't start leaking smells. lol He has the blue drops but they don't seem to help. I will try the asprin along with the drops. The aid is not sticking a pin in it I made sure of that before lol. It gets kinda annoying lol my mom walks around with a can of lysol air freshener and my dad yells that he poop doesn't smell like roses. lol It gets old though. Anyway thanks for all your advice. Iwill try the asprin and the blue liquid at the same time and see what happens.