Intact Penis and Catheter?

[~Kindred Spirit~]

Hi! My ds is going in for surgery of his teeth in the near future and that made me think about his penis and a catheter!

I am assuming,since he is only 22 months old,that when he put him under they will just let him stay in a diaper and not use a catheter???

How can I be sure, in the future if he needing a catheter, that it is done prpoerly? How is it done properly?

How can I protect my ds...especially since I can't be sure the person doing is actually doing it right??

[Frankly Speaking]

Anytime you know your son will be going in, notify the hospital in advance to have male external catheters on hand. They look like a condom with a urine tube coming out the end. It is simply slipped over the penis and taped in place. Not only is it more comfortable but it greatly lessens the chance of infection introduced by internal catheters.

In an unexpected stay at a hospital, using an internal catheter is no big deal. The tip of the foreskin is simply flared a little to expose the meatus for insertion. The two are usually lined up so no problem. In some cases it may require a little "fishing" but still no big deal.




Frank

[~Kindred Spirit~]

Thank-you so much!!!!!!!

What about retracting the foreskin? How involved do I have to be to ensure they don't retract the foreskin? Should I assume they would have a healthcare provider do this that had experience and knowledge? Would they even need to retract his foreskin for an internal catheter?

Thanks again!

[steffanie3]

I would definitally ask about it. I would assume they would just leave them in a diaper, but I would protect my son and make sure.

I would also make sure they know they may not circ him either, weird but it happens because they are under anyway.

My thoughts,
Stephanie

[Lucky Charm]

The tip of the foreskin is simply flared a little to expose the meatus for insertion

This is what i do, as well as the other nurses do in the ER where i work. Sometimes a little fishing is involved, but not much. and never have i, nor any of the nurses i work with, retracted any boys foreskin.

I cant speak for the OR, but my guess would be that they wont let him wear a diaper, but they just might. Thats a good question, and one i would ask soon. i would think wearing a diaper would be so much easier for your child, and the staff. Just seems cleaner. It might also depend on what kind of surgery your son is having.

I also cant imagine them circ'g him without your knowledge, just because he is "under". they would need your consent first. We have people sign their life away for just about everything that comes down the pike.

I hope ll goes well for your child!

[Wendi]

Definitely call and ask first. If they need to cath him, make sure you are standing over him the whole time... do not allow them to retract him. You will likely be told that they HAVE TO do it. If this happens don't allow them to... tell them that you KNOW it can be done w/o retraction and would they please find someone who is actually skilled at it since obviously this person isn't able to do it properly.

I printed up a brochure from nocirc because my son had to be catheterized twice. It says: "A catheter can be inserted when the foreskin is retracted just enough to see the meatus (urinary opening). If the foreskin's opening is too small to retract far enough to see the meatus, a catheter can be inserted through the foreskin's opening and into the meatus "by feel." The foreskin should never be retracted by force for any reason."

HTH!!!

[~Kindred Spirit~]

Thanks everyone!

..I am starting to feel better and better having more and more information!!!!

I am copying and pasting tidbits of information and will be printing it all off so I don't forget anything!!!

My ds and I were seriously mistreated after he was born so I am having a difficult time trusting them to care for him and handing him over to them is not something I am looking forward to!

[~Kindred Spirit~]

BTW..when I say "them" I mean healthcare professionals....

[Lucky Charm]

Is their anyway you can avoid this?

Considering your trust issues, is there any alternatives?

[steffanie3]

sweetbaby3~

It has been done, I know it sounds crazy, but I would make sure.

[Frankly Speaking]

Originally posted by steffanie3
I would also make sure they know they may not circ him either, weird but it happens because they are under anyway.

Oh, Absolutely! There was a lawsuit back a couple of years ago. A 57 year old man in New Jersey was in for abdominal surgery and was circumcised prior to beginning the surgery. The doctor claimed they couldn't catherize him without circumcising him. He lost his foreskin but won his case. Not much consolation!




Frank

[Lucky Charm]

You know, i cant and wont say it hasnt. On this forum especially, i wont go there.

I try very hard to understand, to empathize with members here who have issues with the medical esatblishment, of which i am a part of.

Not all of us are evildoers out to screw the general public. All i can do is speak for myself, and my friends in the healthcare profession.

Kindred, i so hope all goes well for your son.

[Ocean_Swimmer]

Originally posted by sweetbaby3
You know, i cant and wont say it hasnt. On this forum especially, i wont go there.

I try very hard to understand, to empathize with members here who have issues with the medical esatblishment, of which i am a part of.

Not all of us are evildoers out to screw the general public. All i can do is speak for myself, and my friends in the healthcare profession.

Kindred, i so hope all goes well for your son.

---Well said, sweetbaby3!
I would guess the dental procedure is being done at a Children's Hospital?
Reason I'm asking, is that you shouldn't be the first to have an intact son admitted for surgery.
1. Speak with your pediatrician about this beforehand: usually, your doc is listed on the baby's chart as the 'admitting' doctor. The specialist won't do anything extra without consulting you and/or your pediatrician. The 'admitting' is the doc who coordinates, oversees, and acts as liason for the family and specialists.
2. If your son is going in for an outpatient procedure, he won't need a catheter....if they want to track his urine output, an external cath is just as capable of catching the output without the risks of an internal catheter.
Usually, the diaper is left in place, and the baby's genitals are left alone.
3. Whoever is doing the dental procedure will tell you if they 'routinely' catheterize kids for this particular surgery.
I'm guessing they won't.

4. --- Just in case, be prepared with your printouts and speak with the OR nurse and anesthesiologist-- who will be attending your baby. They will also know if catheterization is routinely ordered by your specialist, since they 'routinely' work with him/her. If you've covered this with your dentist, you shouldn't even have to ask these folks...

Good luck to you!
For your son's sake, get this anxiety-producing stuff outa the way before you go to the hospital. He will pick up on your anxiety and be really scared: so you need to be in a calm place/space for him. It is scary when kids go to the OR and the adults are crying from their distress. Imagine what the child thinks/feels!

I am sorry you were mistreated by the Medical staff. I wish it didn't happen, but it does.

Let us know how it goes, and my thoughts will be with you

[hummingbear]

well said and definitely be alert

Great words from ocean swimmer.

If you go in knowing you have taken care of your concerns the more likely you will be fully present resulting in good communication, good intuition, practice at speaking up, good reaction and decision making!!!!!!!

Hope all goes well.

A teaching story.......My nephew was forcibly retracted in a hospital ER. All they needed was to catch a urine sample. My sisiter was right there. The nurse was having some difficulty inserting the catheter, my sister said "you won't have to retract will you?" And the before she could say boo the nurse had done it.

Ann

[laurajean]

Kindred Spirit,

Before my son had surgery, I faxed a letter to the hospital and all doctors involved. I believe that I found a form letter at Nocirc, however, now I am having a hard time finding the link. The letter basically stated that my son is intact and should remain so. Under no circumstances is his penis to be circumcised or foreskin retracted. I also clearly spelled out how to insert a catheter without retracting the foreskin. I explained that the letter should be placed in his chart. And, on the day of the surgery, I brought copies and handed them out - just to make sure... I explained that if my words were not adhered to, there would be legal ramifications. If I find the link, I will post it!

~Laura

[laurajean]

Ok, now here is a sample letter. I changed the letter significantly in order to mold it to my situation.

http://www.noharmm.org/Noncircform.htm

~Laura

[~Kindred Spirit~]

Thanks everyone! I am becoming more and more at peace with the whole thing as I learn more. I just want what was is best for him.

I completely understand that not all healthcare providers are evil-doers and are out to screw the general public. I do however feel that educating myself the best I can and working "with" healthcare providers will give our family the best care possible...rather than having no other option but to trust and follow orders, kwim?

It shouldn't be hard to empathize with people who have concerns with the medical establishment....chances are they have very good reasons for having concerns.

I no longer assume that healthcare professionals are making educated choices and that they have the patients best interest at heart...some don't...and it isn't until it is to late to make that discovery...I have decided to use knowledge and instincts when dealing with healthcare providers and trust must be earned.

I don't want to be here a month from now upset with something that went wrong and kicking myself because it could have been avoided if only I had known, kwim?

Thanks again everyone....all your help is very reassuring and appreciated!!!!!

[Ocean_Swimmer]

Re: well said and definitely be alert

Originally posted by hummingbear
Great words from ocean swimmer.

A teaching story.......My nephew was forcibly retracted in a hospital ER. All they needed was to catch a urine sample. My sisiter was right there. The nurse was having some difficulty inserting the catheter, my sister said "you won't have to retract will you?" And the before she could say boo the nurse had done it.Ann

So sorry to hear, but true: some nurses are taught that the proper way to insert a catheter on an intact man is to retract first so that the glans, frenulum, and meatus are cleansed with betadyne before insertion.
Clearly this wouldn't apply to an intact baby boy....
Let's hear from a pediatric nurse out there who is well informed; -----anyone out there, ladies and gentlemen?

laurajean, thanks for the link; noharmm is a great resource!

Oh, and kindredspirit, you are right, being informed ahead of time is the best prevention!
It should be a given among us healthcare providers that any parents with a hospitalized child are anxious and need to have everything explained beforehand. It is regrettable the simple practice of communication is 'forgotten' in the interest of 'effeciency' or 'expediency'-- neither of which serves the patient--- unless it's a life or death situation.

[candiland]

When I worked as a pediatric assistant, I held down a baby boy so he could be cathetarized. The ped. retracted the foreskin until it bled. I didn't know that that wasn't normal at the time. This was about two years ago.

This same ped. frequently brought two boys in who were born "partially circumcised" so he could keep retracting the adhesions that "continually formed"

Ugh. I can't believe a ped. that is an assistant professor at one of the world's top hospitals is that stupid

[momsmyjob]

Thank you laurajean for posting that...I bookmarked it incase I needed it for the future.

Good luck Kindred with your sons surgery.