A suprapubic catheter (SPC) is a thin, flexible rubber or plastic tube that healthcare providers use to drain urine (pee) from your urinary bladder when you can’t pee on your own.

The suprapubic catheter [Fig. placement of a suprapubic catheter] is considered a better alternative to the transurethral Foley catheter in selected situations. See the table transurethral vs. suprapubic …

May 11, 2026 · A suprapubic catheter drains the bladder through the abdomen instead of the urethra. Learn how it works, who needs one, and how to care for it.

Nov 26, 2019 · A suprapubic catheter (sometimes called an SPC) is a device that’s inserted into your bladder to drain urine if you can’t urinate on your own. Normally, a catheter is inserted into your …

Jul 7, 2025 · A suprapubic catheter is a hollow flexible tube (catheter) that is used to drain urine from the bladder. It is inserted into the bladder through a cut in your lower tummy, a few inches below the …

A suprapubic (SOO-pruh-PYOO-bick) catheter is a thin, flexible rubber or plastic tube (see Figure 1). It’s used to drain urine (pee) from your bladder when you cannot pee on your own.

Dec 6, 2025 · What is a Suprapubic Catheter? The term “suprapubic” literally means “above the pubic bone,” which precisely describes the anatomical placement of this device.

A suprapubic catheter is a flexible drainage tube inserted directly into the bladder through a small opening in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone. Unlike the more familiar urethral catheter, …

Sep 25, 2017 · Suprapubic catheters empty urine from the bladder via an incision in the belly, instead of the urethra. They can be used, for example, if the urethra is damaged, or if a person is sexually active.

Apr 21, 2025 · A suprapubic (SOO-pruh-PYOO-bick) catheter is a thin, flexible rubber or plastic tube (see Figure 1). It’s used to drain urine (pee) from your bladder when you cannot pee on your own.