Tips for Family Caregivers: Safe Home Drainage Techniques
Written by Mia Clarke.
Catheter management takes a while to master even if you are a trained nurse. As a caregiver who often has to manage the brunt of the responsibilities alone, it doesn’t hurt to have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve.
The more well-educated you are on catheter management the easier it would be to avoid the infections, complications, and discomfort that is often associated with it. That’s exactly what we are here for.
The following sections take you through important guidelines, best practices, techniques, and reliable methods to prevent infection and train yourself on safe home drainage. Let’s get right into it;
1. Keep the Equipment As Clean as Possible
Try to learn as much as you can about proper catheter care. The more you know the better. The first thing you should learn is proper hand hygiene. Never forget to wash your hands carefully with soap and water both before and after you touch the catheter or drainage system.
Drainage should also be followed by a gentle cleanse of the catheter site. Pat the area dry with a clean towel or sterile gauze and cover it with a new sterile dressing. Avoid harsh chemicals, fragrances, or hydrogen peroxide. Instead, use a mild soap and water mix.
Always rely on the sterile supplies provided in the drainage kit and make sure you disinfect the drainage connection point before attaching the drainage bottle. Once the procedure is complete, dispose of the used items carefully and store the unused supplies in a clean, dry place.
2. Monitor the Catheter and Drainage Bag
It’s a caregiver’s responsibility to keep an eye on the catheter. Make sure it is securely in place and the dressings around the area are clean, dry, and not lifting. If you feel like the catheter appears loose, kinked, or painful for your loved one, call the healthcare team right away.
Keep a close eye on the amount, color, and consistency of the fluid being drained. You can also resort to recording the volume and sharing it with your provider if they ask for it. Watch for any sudden changes such as cloudy or bloody fluid as these can be early signs of infection.
A pleural catheter involves drainage of fluid in special vacuum bottles or drainage kits which should be used only according to the manufacturer's instructions and then safely discarded. If you are unsure how to use the supplies, don’t shy away from asking your healthcare team for a demonstration.
3. Drain Only the Recommended Amount
When it comes to pleural catheters, it is important to follow doctor guidelines carefully. Medical professionals recommend removing no more than 1,000mL (1 liter) during a single session. Unless you have explicit instructions from your loved one’s healthcare provider, avoid draining more as that can increase chest pain, lead to persistent coughing, or lower their blood pressure.
Make sure you are monitoring your loved one closely throughout the drainage procedure. If they complain of lightheadedness, feel weak, or can’t breathe, stop draining immediately and reach out to the healthcare team.
Pro Tip: The best way to track drainage is through a high quality PleurX drainage kit with specific measurement markings on each drainage bottle and multiple other features that give you the peace of mind you need. No more worries!
4. Monitor the Site for Infection
A pleural catheter is supposed to stay in place for weeks or months. In that time, preventing infection should be your top priority. Check the catheter site each day for any redness, swelling, warmth, or cloud, green, or foul smelling drainage.
Caregivers should keep a close eye on systemic symptoms like fever or chills which may also be the first signs of an infection. Remember that prevention is always better than cure and following your provider’s instructions carefully as well as using high quality products can significantly reduce the risk of infection!
5. Recording Drainage Volumes
Keep a clear log of the drainages. After each session write down the exact amount of fluid that was removed (in milliters), the appearance of that fluid (clear, straw-colored, bloody, or cloudy) and any other symptoms such as pain, coughing, fever, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
It doesn’t need to be elaborate. A simple notebook would suffice. However, this log is incredibly important as it gives your doctors insight into whether the effusion is improving.
Final Thoughts
Pleural catheter care might feel uncomfortable and overwhelming for caregivers. Yet if you follow the steps and educate yourself on safety guidelines, safe home drainage becomes much more manageable.
Just remember to keep the site clean and monitor drainage closely. Catching an infection early on can drastically affect the outcome.
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