Abscess Drainage catheter

• Drainage end - part that connects to a bag or bulb to drain the fluid
• Main body
• Pigtail end - part that sits within the abscess or fluid collection in your body

Figure 2a and b. Pigtail drainage catheters.

Daily Drain Care

• Flush the drain daily or as many times as directed by your provider
• Empty the drainage bag as often as needed.
• Record the amount of drainage into your MDC account.

Daily Drain Care

• Gather supplies for each drain: One pre-filled 10 mL syringe of sterile saline and one alcohol wipe.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the drain and the components.
• Disconnect the drainage bag from the catheter at the connection site. Then lay the bag on a clean surface.
• Clean the end of the catheter with an alcohol wipe. Then attach the pre-filled 10 mL syringe of sterile saline.
• Make sure the catheter is straight. Then inject 5 to 10 mL of the sterile saline. Record the amount injected into your MDC account (this will be automatically subtracted from the drain output).
• Reconnect the bag to the drain.
• Wash your hands.

Emptying the Drainage Bag and Recording the Output

• Gather supplies: Measuring cup and a daily drain record (which is in your MDC account)
• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the drain and the components.
• Place the measuring cup under the drain spout.
• Unscrew the drain spout.
• Let the contents drain into the measuring cup.
• Re-tighten the drain spout.
• Measure and record the drainage output into your MDC account.
• Discard the drainage in the toilet.

Skin Care and Changing the Bandage

• Check your bandage daily. It should be changed if it is very wet or if it is falling off.
• Prepare a clean work space and gather your supplies: cotton swabs; normal saline or clean tap water; two 4x4 gauze pads; bandage tape
• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your skin.
• Remove your skin bandage and the piece of tape holding the tube to the skin.
• Clean the skin around the entry site with normal saline or tap water using the cotton swabs. Remove all the crust from around the site.
• Wash your hands again.
• Place clean gauze under and over the drain to cover the insertion site. Secure all edges of the gauze with tape.
• Add another piece of tape a few inches away from the bandage to loosely secure the catheter to the skin (see image above).
• Do not apply any ointments or creams to the site. The site needs to stay clean and dry to prevent infection.

Activity

You may resume normal day to day activities in a day or two. Avoid strenuous exercise for up to a few weeks or as directed by your provider. You may shower as normal and gently pat the site dry afterwards and replace the dressing. Do not submerge your drain in a bath, pool or hot tub.

1. Decreased or stopped drain output.

• Check your drain carefully. Examine the tubing from your skin down the drainage bag. Are there any kinks in the tubing? If so, straighten out the tubing and resecure it in a way to prevent it from kinking.
• If your drain has a stopcock attached make sure it is in the open position to drain. If the drainage has not improved you can flush an extra time to see if it is clogged. Flush once toward you with 10 ml sterile saline as described above. If you do not meet resistance but there is still no drainage you can use another 10 ml saline flush and flush downward toward the drainage bag to see if it is clogged in the tubing closer to the drainage bag.

2. Tube partially dislodged.

• Tape the tube in place so it does not come out completely and contact MDC or your local physician. You may need an Xray or a CT scan to see if it has pulled back enough to require replacement.

3. Tube completely dislodged.

• Place a gauze dressing over the site to keep your clothing from becoming soiled. Contact MDC or your local physician.

4. Redness or drainage at the site.

• Examine the site. If the redness is only where the tape was you may have an allergy to the adhesive and may need to switch the adhesive to a different type. Is the site also warm to touch? Is there any drainage from the site? If so, what does the drainage look like? Check your temperature to see if you have a fever. You can contact MDC or your local physician to have it evaluated.

5. Damage to the equipment such as a torn drainage bag, clogged drainage bag or cracked stop cock.

• If these pieces are damaged they will need replacement.
• If you were not provided with extra supplies when your drain was placed MDC can help you.

Types of possible drainage bags. Each of these are made by several different companies so they may look slightly different. Figures 5a and 5b.

Figure 5a. 600 ml drainage bag.

Figure 5b. Accordion drainage bag. An accordion drain is a collection device connected to your drain that allows for continuous suction from your drain. In order to maintain continuous suction from your drain, you’ll need to check the accordion pump periodically throughout the day and make sure that it is compressed (collapsed). If it is expanded then it is no longer producing any suction.