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Catheter not draining into bag

Posted , 7 users are following.

claire38436
claire38436

My mum has an indwelling catheter and we have been struggling for the past few months with what we thought were blockages. However I have discovered the issue seems to be with the bags rather than the catheter itself. If we disconnect the bag urine flows fine directly from the catheter, however when we attach the bag it often stops completely and nothing drains into the bag itself. She is bed bound so only uses a night bag (coloplast simpla 2L). I've seen other people suggest putting air into the bag and have tried this but it doesn't seem to stop the problem. Has anyone else had this issue? 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • david49122
    david49122 claire38436

    Posted

    Is there not a valve at to top of the bag to open to let air flow out 
    • claire38436
      claire38436 david49122

      Posted

      No valve at the top of the bag, they have an anti reflux internal part and wondering if that's causing some kind of airlock.

  • ken10405
    ken10405 claire38436

    Posted

    I use a valve and no bag. However, I have used bags without any trouble. Why not just try a new bag? It sounds as if the bag must be defective,.
    • claire38436
      claire38436 ken10405

      Posted

      We've connected a flip flo valve to the catheter and a bag to the valve and using that briefly seems to build enough pressure to get it flowing again. Just frustrating that it won't drain into the bag on its own. 

  • Pammi43
    Pammi43 claire38436

    Posted

    Have you contacted a district nurse or a urological nurse. They have all sorts of idea's and are probably the best one's to ask. I use the bag's and never had any issues with them. Try a new bag and see if that works. Hope you find a solution.

    • claire38436
      claire38436 Pammi43

      Posted

      Have been in constant contact with the nurses but none of them seem to have experienced any type of airlock with the bags. They've just been changing the catheter when it's stopped draining and it was only when I disconnected the bag that I realised it wasn't the catheter that was blocked. Have ordered some samples of different bags and hopefully we'll find one that doesn't have this issue. 

    • Pammi43
      Pammi43 claire38436

      Posted

      I wish you and ur mum all the very best wishes. There are many type's. I have used different catheters, taps and bags. Finally settled on what work's. I have noticed that certain bag's blow up like balloons at time's but never had a problem with drainage.shocked that the nurse's don't know what to do. Good luck.

  • rosie15125
    rosie15125 claire38436

    Posted

    Hello Claire,

    I have just found your query posted three years ago, regarding airlocks in catheter bags. My husband is in the same situation and I am sure that there is a problem with the bag, rather than the catheter. I am wondering if you were able to resolve the problem. I hope you don't mind my contacting you about this, but I can't get an answer from the professionals.

    • claire38436
      claire38436 rosie15125

      Posted

      Hi Rosie,

      Mum ended up having a lot of bladder stones that were causing sand like sediment that was blocking the catheter tube so definitely worth checking for that. her bladder infection tests always came back negative even when she definitely had an infection. you can get ph strips to test the urine to check if its very alkaline or acidic and if it isnt normal (6.5 to 7 i think) presume he has an infection and try and get antibiotics from the dr (i think mums stones were caused by continuous undiagnosed bladder infections). the best solution we found for the bags were using a flip flo valve in addition to the bag to build up enough pressure to get rid of any airpockets. but do try and get as many different sample bags sent to you from all the supply companies and see if you can find one that works better for you too.

  • joshuapryce1987
    joshuapryce1987 claire38436

    Posted

    Talk to your GP or the person who prescribed it to her. Its more tricky to maintain a woman's pee than a man's. Logically.

  • dave09610
    dave09610 claire38436

    Edited

    an old post

    but from my experience.

    off this is an overnight bag, those feed by gravity and this situation shouldn't happen unless the bag is defective I've never had this happen

    leg bags are different. the urine doesn't flow by gravity but by the pressure being placed on the urine i tried numerous bags, filling the tubing with alcohol and connecting the leg bag never did the alcohol drain into the bag given time the urine did flow into the bag though, with the alcohol and there was no real issue

    attach the bag and give it since time to see if the urine is passing before panicking, like I and other people have.

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