empty patient's bladder to prevent it's accidental puncture - drain with a urinary catheter if necessary
using an aseptic technique, puncture the abdominal wall about 2.5 cm below the umbilicus in the midline; if there is an operation scar, try a more lateral site. Avoid the area of the inferior epigastric artery denoted by a line running from the femoral artery to the umbilicus
infiltrate with 10-15 ml of 1% lignocaine
aspirate for gas, indicating that bowel has been perforated; if free fluid is obtained, send samples for culture and amylase estimation
position catheter tip in the retrovesical pouch
secure catheter in place
Selection of catheter:
short term - hard PVC catheter
long term - soft Silastic rubber catheter (Tenckoff; Oreopoulos)
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