Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter Placement
You are receiving this information on Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter as part of your discharge instructions. An abscess drainage tube is a small tube that is placed into the area of the body where you have fluid collection. Then a small deflated bulb will be attached to the tube that will pull the fluid from the area. It is placed because the collection of fluid has not cleared on its own.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
- You will be asked to sign a consent form before the procedure.
- You may have medication to help you relax.
- You will be positioned in the best way to provide the safest and shortest access to the fluid.
- We will scrub the area of skin to clean it. The radiologist will then inject some medicine to numb the surrounding area of skin. This may sting for a short time.
- The radiologist will make a small cut in the skin, then insert a tube into the abnormal fluid.
- The radiologist uses CT fluoroscopy or Ultrasound to verify the correct position of the tube.
- The tube will be connected to a collecting device or suction depending on the amount of fluid to be removed. If there is a large amount of fluid and it requires continuous suction you may need to stay overnight or be admitted by your ordering physician.
- A specimen may be sent to the lab to check for infection.
- An antibiotic may be prescribed if infection is suspected.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling or severe pain in the arm on the side of the catheter.
POST PROCEDURE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
DIET:
- Resume your routine diet.
ACTIVITY:
- Activity as tolerated.
- Avoid strenuous activity until the tube is removed.
WOUND / INCISIONAL CARE:
- Avoid touching your incision.
- Keep the incision clean and dry.
- No swimming or showering while the tube is in place. A sponge bath is recommended. If you are able to protect the drain site, you may shower after the tube has been in for 2 days or longer.
- Empty, measure and record the amount of drainage in your bulb every two hours or as needed. Then reset your bulb by squeezing to flatten it and closing the end (The drainage should decrease over time).
- If the radiologist wants you to irrigate/flush the drainage tube you will be given instructions how to do it and the equipment needed.
PAIN MANAGEMENT:
- You may take Tylenol or acetaminophen for pain.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT:
- If you are on blood thinners you may restart them in 24 hrs.
- Take all other medications as your doctor prescribed.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED:
- Tenderness at insertion site
- Drainage in fluid collection device (JP) bulb, the drainage may be yellow, clear or slightly bloody or pink colored.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call your physician if any of the following occurs (if you are unable to get hold of your physician Contact the Medical Society):
- Redness, pus or increased pain in the area of the tube site.
- Fever over 101 degrees (by Mouth).
- Bleeding or drainage from around the tube insertion site, apply pressure over the bleeding site with clean gauze or a towel until you obtain professional attention. Call 911 if unable to stop bleeding.
- Accidental removal of the tube.
- If the drainage in the bulb/collection container is very small or not at all.
- You have severe pain not relieved by pain medication\You have any questions or concerns.
- You have any new or unusual symptoms.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. PROCEED TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/OR CALL 911:
DATE AND TIME TO SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call the physician who ordered your procedure for a follow up appointment, if you do not already have a scheduled follow up appointment date and time.
You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions.
Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter Placement
You are receiving this information on Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter as part of your discharge instructions. An abscess drainage tube is a small tube that is placed into the area of the body where you have fluid collection. Then a small deflated bulb will be attached to the tube that will pull the fluid from the area. It is placed because the collection of fluid has not cleared on its own.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
- You will be asked to sign a consent form before the procedure.
- You may have medication to help you relax.
- You will be positioned in the best way to provide the safest and shortest access to the fluid.
- We will scrub the area of skin to clean it. The radiologist will then inject some medicine to numb the surrounding area of skin. This may sting for a short time.
- The radiologist will make a small cut in the skin, then insert a tube into the abnormal fluid.
- The radiologist uses CT fluoroscopy or Ultrasound to verify the correct position of the tube.
- The tube will be connected to a collecting device or suction depending on the amount of fluid to be removed. If there is a large amount of fluid and it requires continuous suction you may need to stay overnight or be admitted by your ordering physician.
- A specimen may be sent to the lab to check for infection.
- An antibiotic may be prescribed if infection is suspected.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling or severe pain in the arm on the side of the catheter.
POST PROCEDURE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
DIET:
- Resume your routine diet.
ACTIVITY:
- Activity as tolerated.
- Avoid strenuous activity until the tube is removed.
WOUND / INCISIONAL CARE:
- Avoid touching your incision.
- Keep the incision clean and dry.
- No swimming or showering while the tube is in place. A sponge bath is recommended. If you are able to protect the drain site, you may shower after the tube has been in for 2 days or longer.
- Empty, measure and record the amount of drainage in your bulb every two hours or as needed. Then reset your bulb by squeezing to flatten it and closing the end (The drainage should decrease over time).
- If the radiologist wants you to irrigate/flush the drainage tube you will be given instructions how to do it and the equipment needed.
PAIN MANAGEMENT:
- You may take Tylenol or acetaminophen for pain.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT:
- If you are on blood thinners you may restart them in 24 hrs.
- Take all other medications as your doctor prescribed.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED:
- Tenderness at insertion site
- Drainage in fluid collection device (JP) bulb, the drainage may be yellow, clear or slightly bloody or pink colored.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call your physician if any of the following occurs (if you are unable to get hold of your physician Contact the Medical Society):
- Redness, pus or increased pain in the area of the tube site.
- Fever over 101 degrees (by Mouth).
- Bleeding or drainage from around the tube insertion site, apply pressure over the bleeding site with clean gauze or a towel until you obtain professional attention. Call 911 if unable to stop bleeding.
- Accidental removal of the tube.
- If the drainage in the bulb/collection container is very small or not at all.
- You have severe pain not relieved by pain medication\You have any questions or concerns.
- You have any new or unusual symptoms.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. PROCEED TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/OR CALL 911:
DATE AND TIME TO SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call the physician who ordered your procedure for a follow up appointment, if you do not already have a scheduled follow up appointment date and time.
You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions.
Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter Placement
You are receiving this information on Abscess or Fluid Drainage Catheter as part of your discharge instructions. An abscess drainage tube is a small tube that is placed into the area of the body where you have fluid collection. Then a small deflated bulb will be attached to the tube that will pull the fluid from the area. It is placed because the collection of fluid has not cleared on its own.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
- You will be asked to sign a consent form before the procedure.
- You may have medication to help you relax.
- You will be positioned in the best way to provide the safest and shortest access to the fluid.
- We will scrub the area of skin to clean it. The radiologist will then inject some medicine to numb the surrounding area of skin. This may sting for a short time.
- The radiologist will make a small cut in the skin, then insert a tube into the abnormal fluid.
- The radiologist uses CT fluoroscopy or Ultrasound to verify the correct position of the tube.
- The tube will be connected to a collecting device or suction depending on the amount of fluid to be removed. If there is a large amount of fluid and it requires continuous suction you may need to stay overnight or be admitted by your ordering physician.
- A specimen may be sent to the lab to check for infection.
- An antibiotic may be prescribed if infection is suspected.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling or severe pain in the arm on the side of the catheter.
POST PROCEDURE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
DIET:
- Resume your routine diet.
ACTIVITY:
- Activity as tolerated.
- Avoid strenuous activity until the tube is removed.
WOUND / INCISIONAL CARE:
- Avoid touching your incision.
- Keep the incision clean and dry.
- No swimming or showering while the tube is in place. A sponge bath is recommended. If you are able to protect the drain site, you may shower after the tube has been in for 2 days or longer.
- Empty, measure and record the amount of drainage in your bulb every two hours or as needed. Then reset your bulb by squeezing to flatten it and closing the end (The drainage should decrease over time).
- If the radiologist wants you to irrigate/flush the drainage tube you will be given instructions how to do it and the equipment needed.
PAIN MANAGEMENT:
- You may take Tylenol or acetaminophen for pain.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT:
- If you are on blood thinners you may restart them in 24 hrs.
- Take all other medications as your doctor prescribed.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED:
- Tenderness at insertion site
- Drainage in fluid collection device (JP) bulb, the drainage may be yellow, clear or slightly bloody or pink colored.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call your physician if any of the following occurs (if you are unable to get hold of your physician Contact the Medical Society):
- Redness, pus or increased pain in the area of the tube site.
- Fever over 101 degrees (by Mouth).
- Bleeding or drainage from around the tube insertion site, apply pressure over the bleeding site with clean gauze or a towel until you obtain professional attention. Call 911 if unable to stop bleeding.
- Accidental removal of the tube.
- If the drainage in the bulb/collection container is very small or not at all.
- You have severe pain not relieved by pain medication\You have any questions or concerns.
- You have any new or unusual symptoms.
POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. PROCEED TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT/OR CALL 911:
DATE AND TIME TO SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN:
- Call the physician who ordered your procedure for a follow up appointment, if you do not already have a scheduled follow up appointment date and time.
You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions.