Problem with catheter

Are you taking any blood-thinning or anti-coagulation medicines, such as Clopidogrel or warfarin or even aspirin ?

If you have difficulty passing a catheter and use too much force, it is rather easy to cause bleeding, and it can indeed take a few hours to stop. be aware that only a tiny drop of blood will distinctly colour your urine. It is not usually anywhere near as nasty as it looks.

Havinf said that, if you are finding it increasingly difficult, investigate the different catheter tip called a tiemann or coude tip, which is specially designed for BPH cases where the catheter needs to 'shoulder aside' the prostate it passes through. Another thing you could try is sit on a moderately firm surface as your try to pass the catheter. Always be gentle and careful - goes without saying.

I hope you did not accidently insert with the coude tip pointing the wrong way ? This can happen, and would very likely result in a small tear near the end of the urethra.

You will have to be extra gentle until it heals. I would stop aspirin immediately at least for a while. Why do you take it ?  If you have had a heart attack, I would at least review it or two afterwards. There is a balance of risk/benefit to blood thinning, and catheterising in my view, puts the balance a little bit on the risk side. But medical advice should be taken on that, of course.

It could be anything from bening to serious. None of us are doctors here, nor do we have access to an examination or imaging. If you cannot see your doctor this morning, I think it important you at least talk to him. That said, some blood can be normal, especially if you haven't catherized for a long time. However, the "resistance" part is of concern as you may have punctured something on the way in. But again, this is really a doctor issue, and since it involves unexpected bleeding, should be addressed right away. 

Jim

 

Apparently nothing to act upon as an "emergency". I spoke with Dr's office and discussed my situation and concern with a Nurse. She felt that I should let time pass and maintain fluids and she would not consider this an emergency "yet". I am to keep in touch with her if needed.

Hi, James. I am in exactly the same situation! I am evaluating some super-slick hydrophilic catheters, starting with a 14 Fr. The first one passed through a known stricture, then the inner sphincter, and into my bladder with remarkable ease; in fact, too much ease. I decided to move up to a 16 Fr. which I had to order.

Unfortunately, my order was rejected because my Uro had specified 14 Fr. So I reasoned that, since the first catheter passed in and out without difficulty, the second one should do the same. Wrong call!

As soon as the catheter tip reached the stricture way down half way through my prostate, the top of the catheter kinked about two inches beyond the meatus. This created tension causing the catheter to spring through the sphincter and into the bladder. Once the bladder had emptied I withdrew the catheter with utmost care,

yet still found about 2 inches of blood in the lower lumen.

This heralded a strong possibility of an upcoming UTI. A urinalysis was duly arranged and, by the second day an infection was detected. I am now on a course of Ciprofloxacin HCL 500 mg.

The moral of the story here is to go beyond the simplistic descripion of "tube" or "pipe", so often assigned to the urethra in the general literature, and treat it as the organ it really is, and a delicate one at that.

So yes, James, I think this type of injury does happen more often than I would care for. I hope this helps you; good luck!

Alan.