Learning About Urinary Catheterization in Children

What is it?

Urinary catheterization is a procedure to drain urine from the bladder. It's done with a plastic tube (catheter). The tube is passed through the urethra to the bladder. Some catheters are used to a collect a urine sample. They are then removed. Others stay in place to drain urine for a longer time.

Why is it done?

Your child may need a urinary catheterization if:

• A sample of urine is needed quickly.
• Your child is too young to urinate when asked.
• Your child has a health problem that makes your child unable to urinate on their own.
• Your doctor needs to test your infant's urine for signs of infection.
• Your child is having a procedure or surgery that will cause your child to be unable to urinate on their own for a period of time.
• Your child is very ill, and doctors need to measure how much urine your child makes.

How is it done?

A health professional will place a small, flexible tube called a catheter into your child's urethra and guide it into the bladder. The urethra carries urine outside the body from the bladder.

Sometimes a catheter is used just to get a urine sample. In that case, it will be taken out after the sample is collected. If the catheter is going to be left in place for a longer time, the tip of it will stay in your child's bladder. It will be held in place by a small balloon. The other end of the catheter will be attached to a bag. The bag will collect the urine.

What can you expect afterward?

A catheter can cause discomfort. But your child should feel better after it's removed. It's common for the urine to have a pink tint after catheterization. This is from a small amount of blood in the urine. If your child goes home with a catheter, you'll get instructions for how to care for it.