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What is a urinary drainage bag?
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A urinary drainage bag is an accessory used in urinary catheterization. This bag is attached to the catheter that is inside the bladder and helps to collect urine.
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What are the two types of drainage bags?
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The two types of drainage bags are leg drainage and bedside drainage. - Leg Drainage Bag: This is good for daytime use and can be worn under the pants or a long skirt. The elastic straps hold the bag in place on the insides of your thigh, just above the knee. This bag does not have the large volume capacity as a regular urinary bag but is handy for those who are active and need to be moving around.
- Bedside Drainage Bag: This bag is most convenient for use at night. A hook lets you hang it from your bed frame while you sleep. It holds a large amount of urine so you will not need to get up at night to empty it out.
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How to connect a catheter to a drainage bag?
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- Wash your hands before and after the procedure
- Wipe end of the catheter with alcohol swab, cleansing thoroughly
- Wipe the connector on the drainage tube with an alcohol swab, cleansing thoroughly
- Connect catheter to the tubing
- If you have a Foley catheter, clamp tubing either by pinching with your fingers or using a clothespin prior to disconnecting. Unclamp when new tubing is recommended. This will prevent urine from leaking out of catheter
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What are the points to remember when using the drainage bags?
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- When wearing the leg bag:
- Always apply leg bag to the calf
- Wear on alternate legs each day
- Always apply leg bag with flutter valve at the top; this prevents the urine from backing up into the catheter from the bag
- Test the flutter valve during cleaning by tipping the bag upside down. If water flows out of the flutter valve, discard the bag
- Make sure the leg bag connecting tubing is short enough to prevent kinking and long enough to prevent a pull on the catheter
- When putting up the bedside drainage bag:
- Always keep drainage bag below the level of your bladder
- Keep tubing coiled on the bed; do not let it hang below drainage bag
- Connect drainage bag to the bed; do not allow it to lie on the floor
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How to change the drainage bag?
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- Wash your hands well
- Disconnect the valve at the end of the tube near the bag; try not to pull too hard
- Do not let the end of the tube or bag touch anything, including your hands
- Clean the end of the tube with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze
- Clean the opening of the bag with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze if it is not a new bag
- Attach the tube to the bag tightly
- Strap the bag to your leg
- Wash your hands again
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What are the precautions to be considered while emptying the drainage bag?
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- Empty the drainage bag in a clean toilet and do not allow the end of the bag or tube to touch any surface of the bathroom
- Empty the drainage bag frequently, as often as two to three times a day
- Do not allow the bag to become more than half full
- While emptying, note the urine color, consistency and odor
- While emptying, keep the bag at a level below your hip or the bladder
- After you have finished emptying the bag, wipe the spout clean with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or gauze
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How often should one change the leg bag or bedside bag?
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A leg bag or bedside bag should be changed once a month. However, if it smells bad or looks dirty, you should not wait a month before changing it but do it immediately.
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What is an anti-reflux chamber?
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It is an anti-reflux device which provides a clear one-way urine flow and minimizes back flow into the drainage tube.
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