Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is a standard process that people may undergo, especially after urological surgery. It is a relatively simple procedure but does come with a few possible complications.

CBI is a procedure that helps prevent clotting and encourages the free flow of urine after urological surgeries such as prostate surgery. It involves flushing the bladder with sterile liquid using a three-way catheter.

Keep reading to learn more about CBI, including its purpose, procedure, and recovery time.

CBI is long-standing and is a common practice after some surgical procedures, including prostatectomy and bladder surgery.

According to a 2015 article, CBI allows simultaneous infusion and drainage of the bladder with fluid, usually saline.

The procedure helps with internal bleeding or clot formation after prostate surgeries. Draining and rinsing the bladder can prevent blood and clot retention, at least until the person’s body starts flushing out fluid normally again.

Medical professionals typically perform CBI in a hospital setting over several days.

Even though CBI is common practice, some people may require an alternative procedure, particularly if they have large blood clots in the bladder that the body cannot push out on its own. They may first need manual aspiration with a large syringe and then intermittently during CBI.

Before the procedure, the person must have a bladder catheter. This is a thin tube that the medical team, usually a nurse, inserts into the urethra after applying an antimicrobial treatment. The other end of the tube remains outside the body, allowing urine and other fluids to pass.

The catheter for a continuous bladder irrigation procedure is a three-way catheter with multiple openings, including:

Once the catheter is in place, the nurse or urologist can perform CBI. The medical professional will:

Throughout the procedure, the medical professional will:

CBI should not be painful. However, if a person experiences pain, they should immediately notify the healthcare professional. Pain could indicate that the position of the catheter needs adjustment or that the bladder irritant fluid is not draining, usually due to clots.

However, there may be some discomfort. Since the person must carry the pole with the saline bags when they get out of bed, there is some restriction of movement. The person also has to ensure they do not disconnect the catheter by mistake, such as during sleep.

Pain from a simple procedure like CBI can also happen because of incorrect technique. A 2015 case study outlines the case of a man who had discomfort and pain from three catheter reinsertions because the medical team inserted them incorrectly.

CBI aims to flush out any potential blood clots and fluids. Clear outgoing fluid can indicate that the bladder is clean.

When this happens, the medical team continues to monitor the fluids and then disconnects the catheter from the patient.

Catheters and CBI are generally safe. Some potential risks include:

Medical literature does not indicate a required recovery period after CBI.

However, people may still need to recover from any surgeries.

To avoid the potential risks, people undergoing bladder irrigation should talk with a nurse or doctor if they experience blood, pain, or the inability to urinate.

CBI is a common procedure that allows a person, usually someone staying at a hospital, to clear out their bladder of any thick blood that may cause clots.

It is typically a very safe procedure. However, complications may arise, especially in combination with intensive surgeries.

It is important for people to understand what to expect from the procedure and the risks involved.

Last medically reviewed on July 27, 2022

Urinary retention can cause the need to urinate very frequently, the urge to urinate again straight after using the bathroom, or incontinence. Read…

In this article, learn about the symptoms of an overactive bladder, when a doctor should be consulted, and natural remedies to treat an overactive…

Children often wet the bed until they have full control of their bladder, usually around the age of 3 years. After this, bedwetting may be a sign of…

Urinary urgency is the urgent need to urinate despite not having a full bladder. It may occur alongside frequent or painful urination. Learn about the…

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder syndrome that causes pelvic or bladder pain and urinary urgency. Many treatments are available for the…