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southern new mexico surgery center
 
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    Women's Health

    Changing Your Urinary Catheter Bag to Your Leg Bag

    Step-by-Step

    1. Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

      1. Wash your hands.

    2. One hand holding top of catheter bag over toilet, with other hand pulling valve out to open it, and urine flowing from bag into toilet.

      2. Open the valve to drain the bag into the toilet.

    3. Hands placing towel on leg under catheter where catheter connects to bag drainage tube.

      3. Place a towel under the catheter connection.

    4. Hand holding catheter, with thumb and index finger pinching catheter.

      4. Pinch the catheter to prevent leaks.

    5. One hand holding catheter, with other hand pulling bag tube away from catheter opening.

      5. Disconnect the drainage tube.

    6. Catheter bag in sink full of soapy water.

      6. Set the bag aside for cleaning.

    7. Catheter leg bag.

      7. Get your leg bag.

    8. One hand holding catheter and other hand using alcohol wipe to clean catheter tip.

      8. Clean the catheter tip with an alcohol wipe.

    9. One hand holding catheter and leg bag drainage tube, with other hand removing drainage tube cover.

      9. Remove the drainage tube cover from the leg bag.

    10. One hand holding catheter and drainage tube and other hand using alcohol wipe to clean leg bag drainage tube tip.

      10. Clean the drainage tube tip with an alcohol wipe.

    11. One hand holding catheter and other hand putting leg bag drainage tube into catheter.

      11. Connect the leg bag drainage tube to the catheter.

    12. One hand holding catheter bag on lower leg and other hand using top straps to fasten leg bag to leg.

      12. Fasten the top leg strap.

    13. One hand holding catheter bag on lower leg and other hand using bottom straps to fasten leg bag to leg.

      13. Fasten the bottom leg strap.

    14. Hand using small pieces of medical tape to attach catheter and leg bag drainage tube to upper leg.

      14. Tape the drainage tube to your leg.

    15. Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

      15. Wash your hands.

    © 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center
    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

    Copyright © The StayWell Company, LLC. except where otherwise noted.
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