How to Remove a Catheter

A catheter is used when the bladder is not working properly, helping the person or patient urinate. When the bladder begins working again, the catheter can be removed. You can learn how to remove a catheter by following a few steps. 

1. Wash your hands with hot water and soap before beginning to remove the catheter from the body. You also want to put on rubber gloves before beginning the process.


2. Deflate the balloon before beginning to remove the catheter from your body. If you attempt to remove it while the balloon is still inflated, it can result in serious injury.


3. Find the inflation port on the side of the catheter. This inflation port can be opened and closed with a small valve.


4. Open the valve on the inflation port and insert a syringe into the port.


5. Remove any fluid from the catheter using the syringe. You want to continue removing the fluid until no more fluid can be removed for the inflation port.


6. Locate the catheter end and begin to remove it from the body. Remove the catheter by slowing pulling on the material with light pressure until it has come out completely.


7. Wait for the balloon section of the catheter to be removed in order to ensure all parts of your catheter have been removed completely.


8. Dispose of the catheter in the proper type of canister. You want to dispose of the material in a medical waste bin for proper disposal.