Drainage Catheter
What is a drainage catheter? | Before the procedure | During the procedure | After the procedure | Contact us
What is a drainage catheter?
A drainage catheter, or tube, is used to drain an abscess or pocket of fluid, such as body fluid, pus or blood. This fluid may be infected, and it needs to be drained through a small catheter that is placed directly into the pocket of fluid. The catheter is then left in place for several days to drain the remaining fluid into a small bag that is attached to the drainage catheter.
Your child may be given sedation for placement of the drainage catheter. With sedation, patients usually can speak and respond to verbal cues throughout the procedure.
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Before the procedure
To prepare for the procedure, your child cannot eat any solid foods beginning eight hours before the scheduled time of the procedure. Your child may have clear liquids until four hours before the scheduled time of the procedure.
Sedation and pain medications will be given through an IV to help your child relax and control pain as needed throughout the procedure. Your child may be scheduled with general anesthesia which will be managed by an anesthesiologist. An Interventional Radiology RN will call when your child is scheduled to discuss the information with you.
An interventional radiologist will use image guidance, such as ultrasound and fluoroscopy (a moving X-ray), to locate the abscess. The interventional radiologist will use numbing medication to help the skin "fall asleep" before placing the drainage catheter into the abscess. The drainage catheter will be connected to a closed drainage bag to allow the abscess to continue draining for several days.
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During the procedure
A nurse from Interventional Radiology will stay with your child during the procedure. If your child has general anesthesia, he / she will go to the PACU until fully awake. If your child is sedated, he / she will return to their inpatient floor when they meet Interventional Radiology discharge criteria.
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After the procedure
After the catheter is in place, an Interventional Radiologist along with your child's doctor will decide when the drainage catheter will be taken out. Removing the catheter is easy, and will be done at the bedside or during an outpatient visit.
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Contact us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
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Written 4/04; Rev. 5/06
