Leg Bag for Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter (The James)

Leg Bag for Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter (The James)

 

A leg bag is a smaller size urine collection bag for your urinary (Foley) catheter. The leg bag can be worn on your leg during times when you are out of bed to collect urine.

 

Supplies

  • Alcohol and cotton balls
  • Soap and water
  • Wash cloth and towel
  • Leg strap

 

How to change your large bag to a small leg bag

  • Gather your supplies.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water. If this is not possible, you may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
  • Measure and cut the tubing from the leg bag to fit down to your calf with your leg slightly bent.
  • Do your catheter care as instructed. For more information on caring for your urinary catheter, ask your nurse for the patient education handout: How to Care for Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter at Home/ Male - The James or How to Care for Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter at Home/Female - The James.
  • Empty the large urine collection bag.
  • Wash your hands again with soap and water. If this is not possible, you may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
  • Use the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol to clean the connection between the urinary (Foley) catheter tubing and the large collection bag tubing.
  • Place a towel under the connection so urine will not drip onto your leg.
  • Pinch off the soft rubber tubing so urine will not leak out.
  • Disconnect your urinary (Foley) catheter from the large collection bag tubing with a twisting motion.

 

 

  • Be careful not to pull on your catheter. Place the large collection bag with tubing on the towel.
  • Connect the small leg bag tubing.
  • Place the leg bag on your calf with the straps provided. Use a leg strap to secure the tubing to your thigh.
  • Clean the large collection bag and tubing with vinegar and water and hang it in the shower or tub to dry.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water. If this is not possible, you may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.

 

Precautions

  • Keep the collection bag lower than the level of your hips to prevent urine from flowing back into your bladder.
  • The leg bag is smaller and you will need to empty it more often than your large collection bag.
  • Do not use the leg bag while you sleep. You will need to use the larger collection bag during nighttime or sleep hours.
  • Unless told otherwise, drink 8 to 10 cups of non-caffeinated fluid each day.
  • Clean your leg bag and large collection bag at least every other day.
  • Clean each bag with a solution of vinegar and water that is 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water, unless told otherwise by a member of your health care team.
  • Change your old bags to new bags every 2 weeks or more often as needed.

 

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any of the following:

  • Burning or pain in your lower abdomen (belly)
  • Pain or aching in your back, around the area of your kidneys
  • Urine that smells bad
  • Chills or fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher
  • Pain, redness, swelling, itching or burning near or where the catheter leaves your body
  • Feeling that your bladder is full or that your catheter is plugged
  • Urine that looks bloody, dark golden or cloudy
  • No drainage of urine
  • Urine leaking around your tube
  • Confusion or changes in how you act
  • Your catheter falls out
  • If you had surgery and you have more urine leaking or bloody drainage than you were told to expect

 

If you need to call the doctor

If you call your doctor, have the following information ready:

  • Your temperature
  • The amount and appearance of your urine
  • Try to describe your problem as detailed as you can. For example, if the problem is pain, be able to tell your doctor where the pain is, what the pain feels like (sharp, dull, burning) and when pain occurs.

For more information on how to prevent infection and care for your urinary catheter, ask your nurse for the patient education handout How to Prevent an Infection with Your Urinary (Foley) Catheter - The James.

 

 

© March 28, 2022. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care.