Troubleshooting – Urinary Catheter

You should seek help if any of the following occurs:
• There has been no urine draining into the bag for 2-3 hours, especially if you feel that your bladder is still full. This is likely to indicate that your catheter may have become blocked.
• Start to experience new pain in your lower abdomen, pelvis, back or legs.
• Your urine has changed colour i.e. it has become cloudy, bloodstained or has obvious blood clots in it.
• Your urine has a strong, foul (sometimes fishy) odour.
• You have a fever, develop nausea, vomiting or feel unwell.
• Urine is leaking around the catheter indicating that your catheter may be blocked. Ensure that the catheter tubing isn’t kinked and the bag is in a good position.
• You experience irritation, tenderness, swelling or redness at the catheter insertion site.