Patient Education Cancer of the Pancreas: A Care Guide | Page 21

Drainage and
Biliary Tube Care
Call Interventional Radiology
(see numbers below) if:
• The tube stops draining.
• There is blood in the tube for more
than 24 hours after the tube has
been in place.
• The tube is pulled part or all of the
way out.
• You have a fever or chills.
• Fluid is leaking around the tube.
• The fixation device dressing is
soaked with drainage or is falling
off.
• You have any questions about
your tube.
If you have questions or if problems
occur, call your surgeon or
interventional radiology at the hospital
where you had the tube placed (see
the right column for the telephone
numbers).
Drainage Tube
A drainage tube is inserted into an
abscess or site where fluid or infection
has collected and needs to be drained.
Biliary Drainage Tube
Interventional Radiology
A biliary tube is inserted when your
liver is blocked. This allows bile to
drain into a drainage bag.
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m.–4 p.m., call:
Mount Carmel East
614-234-6518
Mount Carmel St. Ann’s
380-898-4411
Mount Carmel West
614-234-5374
After 4 p.m. and on weekends, call
the Radiology Department and ask to
speak to the technologist on call:
Mount Carmel East
614-234-6770
Mount Carmel St. Ann’s
380-898-4020
Mount Carmel West
614-234-5100
General Care
• After the tube is inserted, some
blood is normal, but you should
not see blood in the drainage after
24 hours.
• Keep the drainage bag lower than
where the tube was inserted.
• Avoid tension or pulling on the
tube.
• Go about your daily routine unless
your doctor has told you otherwise.
• Empty the drainage bag when it is
about half full.
• Follow the instructions you were
given about caring for your
dressing and fixation device.
• Do not take a tub bath while the
tube is in place. Ask your nurse if it
is safe for you to shower.
20