patient education : 14104--Nephrostomy or Biliary Tube Check and Change

NEPHROSTOMY OR BILIARY TUBE CHECK AND CHANGE

These instructions will help you take care of yourself at home.

DIET

You may resume your diet today. You may choose to start with liquids and advance your diet as tolerated, no alcohol for 24 hours.

ACTIVITY

If you have received sedation medication, do not make important personal or business decisions or sign important documents for 24 hours. Rest for the remainder of the day. Resume normal activity tomorrow. No driving for 24 hours or operating heavy machinery. Avoid any activity that may cause your tube to be pulled or damaged.

IV SITE

The IV site(s) may be sore. Wet, Warm compresses for 15-30 minutes every few hours will help. Call your primary doctor or the Interventional Radiology department if the site becomes red, swollen, hot or painful.

CARE OF TUBE INSERTION SITE

Change dressing as previously instructed. With each dressing change, inspect skin for redness warmth or swelling. Also note any drainage coming from around the tube. If any of the above is seen, call the Interventional Radiology Department.

SPECIAL CARE NEEDED

The dressing must remain in place at all times. Do not immerse your tube insertion site in water. You may take a shower but cover the site completely with plastic. If the dressing becomes wet, remove it and place a new one.

MEDICATIONS

See medication record                                                N/A                            

Prescription given                                                          N/A                          

MEDICATIONS YOU RECEIVED DURING YOUR PROCEDURAL VISIT TODAY

See discharge instructions given by your nurse after your procedure for medications used during your procedure.

INFECTION

Watch for signs and symptoms of infection at tube insertion site, such as redness, swelling, tenderness and warmth. Also, watch for fever, chills, vomiting and cloudy urine. Call your doctor or call the Interventional Radiology department with the first sign of infection.

FOLLOW-UP

4-week follow-up appointment made. ____________________________  N/A

WHEN TO CALL

Call the Interventional Radiology department if your tube has been pulled or damaged in any way. Call for no drainage but only after you have checked for a kink in the tubing and that all connections are secure. Call if you see leakage around the insertion site, bright red blood that persists or experience sudden pain in the area of your tube.

If you have any questions or problems, or need to change an appointment, please call:

• 7:00am -5:00pm Monday-Friday (434) 924-9401
• After hours and weekends (434) 924- 9400.

      Ask for the Angio Interventional Radiology Fellow on call

• UVA Toll Free number (800) 251-3627