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Suburethral Sling with Suprapubic Catheter -- Home Care HF#6083



This handout gives you information about caring for yourself at home after your surgery.  If you have any questions, be sure to ask your nurse or doctor.

 

What is a suburethral sling?

 

You have noticed that you may leak urine when you cough, strain, or sneeze (incontinence).  As a result of pregnancy, childbirth, and/or aging the support for your urethra has been lost.  This surgery repairs the support and prevents urine leaks.

 

 

   

(a) normal bladder support

 

 

(b) bladder before surgery

 

 

   

(c) after surgery

  Using mesh, a sling is placed under the urine tube (urethra).  This creates a

hammock effect that squeezes the urethra shut when you cough, sneeze or strain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Expect after Surgery

  • You will be in the hospital for 1-2 days.
  • It is normal to feel some pain in the surgical site for 1 to 3 weeks.  You will have pain medicine prescribed for you.
  • SP (suprapubic) tube to drain urine

Post-Void Residual (PVR) Checks

 

It is necessary to check how much urine remains in the bladder after you urinate.  This is called a Post-Void Residual (PVR) check.  Your doctor will instruct you when to do this.  You should begin in the hospital after being shown how to do it by your nurse.

 

Steps

 

1. To start this procedure, clamp the SP tube with a metal or plastic clamp.

 

2. Wait a maximum of 4 hours after you clamp the tube, then try to urinate.  If you are unable to wait that long, you may urinate sooner.

 

If you are unable to urinate, open the clamp and drain the urine.  Record the amount.  If you are very uncomfortable before 4 hours, open the clamp earlier.  Record the amount of urine that was in your bladder.

 

3. If you were able to urinate, measure the amount using the container provided.

 

4. Discard the urine into the toilet.

 

5. Immediately open the clamp.  Urine will drain into the bag connected to the tube.  Leave the tube open for 5 minutes to ensure that all the urine has drained out.

 

6. When the urine has all drained out, close the clamp.

 

7. Empty the urine from the bag into the empty container you urinated into.

 

8. Measure the amount of urine.  This amount may be greater or less than the amount you urinated.  It is also possible that there will not be any urine left in your bladder after you void.

 

9. Keep a record of how much you urinate and how much urine is left in your bladder.

Example: Void 250 - PVR 75

10. Bring the record of what you void and the amount left in your bladder along when you come for your clinic visit.

 

11. Unless you are told to do otherwise, clamp your catheter overnight and get up to void as needed.

 

12. Your doctor will tell you when you should return to the clinic to have the catheter removed.  Your tube will be removed when you are able to urinate so that your PVRs are nearly all less than 50 mL for 24 yours.

 

Dressing Changes

 

Keep a dry dressing over the incision until the drainage stops.  The dressing should be changed at least once a day or more often if needed.  Your nurse will show you how to change the dressing before you go home.  You will be given the supplies to use at home.

 

Activity Guidelines

  • Do not lift more than 10 pounds (1 gallon of milk) for 4 weeks.
  • Do not drive a car for 2 weeks or while you take prescription pain medicine.
  • You may resume sexual activity after 6 weeks.
  • You may shower after 2 days, but no tub baths until your catheter is out. 

When to Call the Doctor

 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

  • The tube does not drain any urine.
  • The urine becomes bloody and does not clear after resting for about 30 minutes and/or drinking 4 glasses of fluids.  A small amount of bleeding is not unusual.
  • There is more than slight drainage around the tube.
  • The site becomes red, warm, and swollen.
  • The tube falls out.
  • Your temperature is greater than 100.5°F by mouth.

Phone Numbers

 

Gynecology Clinic, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm    (608) 263-6240

 

Nights, weekend, and holidays the clinic number is answered by the paging operator. Ask for the Gynecology resident on call.  Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area please call: 1-800-323-8942.

 

The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #7155.

 

 Date  Time  Void  PVR  Clamp

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 02/22/2011

Copyright © 01/28/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6083

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