Suprapubic catheter falls out during a swim

Suprapubic catheter falls out during a swim

My suprapubic catheter falls out after being in the pool for 40 minutes, swimming for 25 minutes, and drinking a few times during exercise. This has happened five times now, with water escaping and the balloon deflating. The other four times occurred in bed, as I was removing my clothes, and I quickly reinserted the catheter and kept it in until a nurse was able to change it the next day.

When I attempted to reinsert the catheter, I failed because my hands were slippery and I was floating in a vertical position. I dried my hands, put on latex gloves, attempted to sterilise the end of the catheter with alcohol hand wash, and once again failed to reinsert the catheter. Something was blocking the tube, and the force was causing the site to bleed.

It was time to dial 000 and request a visit by a paramedic from SA Ambulance, as my bladder may soon fill up. Unfortunately, the call centre operator suggested I may need to wait an hour and not attempt to reinsert the catheter.

Key takeaways

• Balloon deflation can occur unexpectedly (e.g., after removing clothes or during a swim).
• Rapid bladder filling can trigger autonomic dysreflexia — treat it as urgent.
• If reinsertion fails or you’re unsure, seek medical help immediately.
• Have a pre-agreed plan with medical professionals (who to call, what to try, what to avoid).
• Document what worked/failed to refine your future response plan.

Emergency checklist (what I try to do when a Suprapubic Catheter Falls Out)

1. Stop activity, move to a safe, clean area; stay as calm as possible.
2. Check symptoms: headache, flushing, sweating, cramps — signs of autonomic dysreflexia.
3. Gather essentials: gloves, sterile wipes/gel, spare catheter kit, phone, BP monitor.
4. If trained and advised by your medical professionals, attempt reinsertion once with sterile technique.
5. If resistance/bleeding occurs or reinsertion fails: stop and call emergency/clinician.
6. Monitor blood pressure; if it spikes or symptoms worsen, escalate to emergency care.
7. After resolution, record the incident (what happened, timings, what helped) and inform your medical professionals.

FAQs

Related reading

• Catheter failure: what happened and what I changed
• Living with a SCI — more posts
• Accessibility — tips & experiences