Cleaning p-valves?

[guerosd]

I recently read a thread on DIR quest that mentioned folks getting bladder infections from their p-valves (or more specifically the catheter).

Should the p-valve be cleaned to keep down bacteria and stuff growing wild in there and if so with what?

I've considered possibly a bleach or alchohol solution but worried that may have some effect on the plastic/rubber parts.

 

[Cave Diver]

guerosd once bubbled...
I recently read a thread on DIR quest that mentioned folks getting bladder infections from their p-valves (or more specifically the catheter).

Should the p-valve be cleaned to keep down bacteria and stuff growing wild in there and if so with what?

I've considered possibly a bleach or alchohol solution but worried that may have some effect on the plastic/rubber parts.

Mebbe they oughta just try changing the catheters once in a while

 

[Uncle Pug]

I just rinse the tube out with fresh water after the dive and blow it dry... I do this before doffing the suit so that any residual contents do not spill back into the suit.

I always leave a little water in my water bottle just for this purpose.

As for cleaning the cath... hmmm... best bet is to just use a new one each time.

 

[MechDiver]

I have a deli mustard and ketchup set of squeeze bottles with tips that fit the tubing on my p-valve. After diving I rinse the whole system with vinegar, then follow with water. I also flush out the external part of the valve with water.

As Pug said, the cath is only used once, then thrown away.

MD

 

[Cave Diver]

MechDiver once bubbled...
I have a deli mustard and ketchup set of squeeze bottles with tips that fit the tubing on my p-valve. After diving I rinse the whole system with vinegar, then follow with water. I also flush out the external part of the valve with water.

As Pug said, the cath is only used once, then thrown away.

MD

Wow! My answer was actually correct! Who'da thunk it??

 

[guerosd]

Maybe we have a confusion of terms.... I refer to the disposable part as the condom... I generally call the tube the catheter....

I dont want folks thinkin I'm reusin the condom (or the catheter as you guys call it) for god sakes.

 

[Uncle Pug]

guerosd once bubbled...
Maybe we have a confusion of terms.

Technically they are external catheters... but a *street name* for them is condom catheters.

The tubing is called... tubing.

 

[Cave Diver]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...
The tubing is called... tubing.

D'oh! Who'da thunk it! :bonk:

 

[JeffAustin]

I've heard about bladder infections from foleys(internal caths) in the hospital, but not from external caths when diving. I use water to flush out the system after use.