HealthInfo Canterbury
Trial without catheter (trial of void)
Whakamātau me te whakaurunga ara mimi (whakamātaunga mimiti)
A trial without catheter (also called trial of void) is used to see if you can wee (urinate) when the catheter is removed from your bladder for a trial period. It can be done at home or in the hospital.
Your catheter is usually removed in the early hours of the morning. A nurse will remove your catheter. It may feel a little strange, but it shouldn't hurt.
When your catheter has been removed, you should carry out your normal activities. You can eat as normal. You should drink slightly more than normal but do not drink too quickly as this can cause problems. You should be weeing normally within three to five hours. You should wee into a jug so you can measure the amount.
In hospital
If you're in hospital for the trial without catheter, a nurse will measure how much wee (urine) you've passed. You may also have a scan of your bladder to see if you have any wee left in it.
At home
If you're at home for the trial without catheter, you should record how much you drink and how much wee you pass. A nurse will either call you or visit you to check if you've weed and see how you're feeling.
If the trial shows you're weeing normally, you will not need another catheter. If you cannot wee, you'll need to have another catheter. A district nurse may fit this or you may need to go to the hospital.
If you have problems weeing overnight after the trial of void, you should go to an after-hours service, the rural on-call service or the Emergency Department.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed April 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIURS-53047
