Men suffering from urinary incontinence have
to face a highly embarrassing situation everyday because of their condition. To
make things a bit convenient for them male external catheters are a great help.
These can be slipped on like a condom. The other end has a tube that can be
connected to a urine collection bag. It is better to go for latex-free silicone
external catheters, as these do not cause irritation to the skin.
The
External Catheters
The urinary bladder is a small balloon-like
organ located just behind the pubic bone. The urine that passes out from the
kidneys is stored in the bladder. When the bladder gets full, it sends a
message to the brain, which then sends a signal for the sphincter muscles to
relax and allow the urine to flow out until the bladder is empty. This
seemingly simple function can develop certain snags, which may make urination a
troublesome experience. Due to certain medical conditions, people may lose
control over their bladder and develop urinary incontinence. In this case, they
may pass urine or a few drops of it involuntarily. It can be socially quite
embarrassing.
To help such people, an external catheter is
used, which is more convenient to handle than an internal catheter. An external
catheter, mainly used by men, is slipped on to the male organ. The other end
that forms into a tube is attached to a disposal bag. The benefit of having an
external catheter is that you can conveniently remove it and replace it
yourself.
Here are some tips to help manage your
external catheter.
• Hygiene
is a prerequisite in such matters. After touching the catheter or the urine
bag, make sure that you wash your hands properly. You may also wash the skin
that is exposed to the catheter regularly.
• Place
the collection bag at a level lower than your bladder so that the urine flows
down conveniently without any obstruction. Remember that fluids flow from a
higher plane to a lower one.
• Make
sure that the tube attached to the urine bag is flexible to help
maneuverability. Keep the catheter and the connecting tube free from kinks or
loops to allow obstruction-free flow of the urine into the urine bag.
• Empty
the urine bag when it fills, never allowing the urine to remain in the tube
when the bag is full. You may also empty the bag every four to eight hours or
as needed. Refrain from touching the end of the spout when disconnecting the
bag from the tube. If you do so accidentally, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Fix
the catheter tube securely to the thigh with the help of a strap. Leave room
for some slack so that there is no pressure on the catheter when you move your
leg. Although the external catheter is well secured on your organ, chances are
that a firm pull might dislodge it.
• Avoid
disconnecting any portion of the drainage. If the tube end is disconnected,
clean the end with alcohol and reconnect it. If you find the ends getting
loose, you may ask for advice from the doctor or nurse, as the catheter may
need replacement.
For more information
on this topic, you may visit http://www.biorelief.com - BioRelief.com provides detailed
info and comprehensive reviews on the best silicone latex free male external catheters
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