Some patients will be discharged from the hospital with a catheter or ostomy, which they can be educated to care for themselves.

Some patients will be discharged from the hospital with a catheter or ostomy, which they can be educated to care for themselves. Specific instructions on how to take care of the equiment will be provided by a health care professional before you leave the hospital. Make sure you and your caregiver feel comfortable with the instructions, and know how to contact someone who can answer any questions at a later time should you need assistance. 

Catheters

A urinary catheter is inserted into the bladder through the urethra and used to allow urine to drain freely in to a bag that can be emptied or changed. Urinary catheters can be indwelling, or permanent (e.g., Foley); intermittent, which can be inserted by the patient when necessary; or external, used primary by men, which attach to the outside of the anatomy to direct collection (e.g., Texas).

Ostomies

Kimberly A. Stump-Sutliff, MSN, RN, AOCNS, associate medical editor with the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, says an ostomy can be an opening in the belly (abdominal wall) that is made during surgery. The end of the colon (for a colostomy), the small intestine (for an ileostomy), or a tube to drain urine (for a urostomy) is brought through this opening to form a stoma. Where the stoma will be located on the abdomen depends on the type of ostomy needed. The ostomy surgically changes normal body function to allow stool, urine, or air to pass out of the body after surgery for a disease or injury.

”Most ostomies of this type will require that the patient wear a fitted pouch to collect drainage as it comes out of the stoma,” she added. “The pouch seals onto the surrounding skin and needs to be emptied and changed regularly.”

Although an ostomy is a big change for the patient, the operation itself is rather simple, she says. And in many cases, these are reversible once the body has healed; another surgery a few months later will close the stoma and allow the patient to return to normal function.

Patients who need these devices will be properly educated on their use and care. Stump-Sutliff says that in most cases, specially trained hospital personnel, such as a wound-ostomy nurse, will work with patients and their families while they are in the hospital to make sure they understand everything they need to know about maintaining these devices. For instance, in the case of an ostomy, these health care workers will teach ostomy management and how to deal with the equipment needed. “A patient should be able to manage their ostomy themselves in most circumstances,” she adds. “Family members certainly can help.”