Caring for your drainage or feeding tube can be overwhelming and intimidating. ARA has developed a series of videos that walk you through the steps for caring for your biliary drainage catheter, abscess drainage system, nephrostomy drain, and feeding tube.
Tiffany McCall, an ARA paramedic and interventional case coordinator, explains the equipment, how to inspect your dressing, record your output, drain and flush your system, change your dressing, and shower with your drain.
Click on the appropriate link to view each video.
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An abscess is the body’s normal reaction to an infection. it’s important to drain the abscess in order to prevent the infection from spreading throughout your body. To drain an abscess, your physician may place a drainage catheter. Once in place, the catheter may be connected to a small bag outside of your body, where it will be left for a few days to ensure the abscess has time to drain completely. In this video, we cover the equipment, inspecting your dressing, recording your output, draining and flushing your system, changing your dressing, and showering with your drain. |
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A biliary catheter is a small flexible, rubber tube placed into the common bile duct, the passageway for the bile to flow from the gallbladder and liver to the duodenum (small intestine or bowel). This drain allows bile to flow out from a blocked bile duct into a collection bag outside the body. Topics covered in this video include the equipment, inspecting your dressing, recording your output, draining and flushing your system, changing your dressing, and showering with your drain. |
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A nephrostomy is a tube that lets urine drain from the kidney through an opening in the skin on the back. A thin, flexible tube goes through the opening and into the kidney. In this video, we discuss the equipment, inspecting your dressing, recording your output, draining and flushing your system, changing your dressing, and showering with your drain. |
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A feeding tube is a flexible plastic tube placed into your stomach or bowel to help you get nutrition when you’re unable to eat as well as you need to. A feeding tube delivers a liquid nutrition formula directly into your digestive system. Topics covered in this video include the equipment, inspecting your dressing, flushing your tube, feeding, giving medication through the tube, and showering safely. |
