insertion of catheter
Last reviewed 01/2018
Method:
- empty patient's bladder to prevent it's accidental puncture - drain with a urinary catheter if necessary
- using an aseptic technique, puncture the abdominal wall about 2.5 cm below the umbilicus in the midline; if there is an operation scar, try a more lateral site. Avoid the area of the inferior epigastric artery denoted by a line running from the femoral artery to the umbilicus
- infiltrate with 10-15 ml of 1% lignocaine
- aspirate for gas, indicating that bowel has been perforated; if free fluid is obtained, send samples for culture and amylase estimation
- position catheter tip in the retrovesical pouch
- secure catheter in place
Selection of catheter:
- short term - hard PVC catheter
- long term - soft Silastic rubber catheter (Tenckoff; Oreopoulos)