Step 1: Wash and dry your hands. This goes without saying. If someone else is changing your leg bag for you, they must apply a clean pair of gloves after washing and drying their hands.
Step 2: Remove any fixation devices that are currently being used, such as leg bag straps or a leg bag sleeve. Once these are removed, be careful to support the weight of your leg bag at all times as the weight of a urine bag could dislodge your catheter.
Step 3: Open the pouch packaging for your new leg bag and remove the protective cap that is on the leg bag stepped connector but keep it close by. Be careful not to touch the tip of the stepped connector as this could introduce infection once it is attached to your catheter.
Step 4: Carefully pull to detach the old leg bag from your catheter but make sure you are not pulling on the catheter itself, and immediately insert the stepped connector from the new leg bag onto the end of your catheter. You can check the seal by looking through the clear tubing.
Step 5: The protective cap that you removed from the new leg bag can now be attached to the stepped connector of the old leg bag prior to disposal to prevent leakage of any urine remaining in the tube on the leg bag.
Step 6: Apply any fixation and support devices that you are using and adjust to ensure your catheter is draining into the new leg bag. Stand up if you can and have a move around to make sure you are comfortable with how they are all fitting.
Step 7: Empty the urine from your old leg bag directly into the toilet and dispose of the bag as recommended by your nurse.
Step 8: Wash and dry your hands.