Caring for Your Biliary Drain (2024)

FAQs

Caring for Your Biliary Drain? ›

Median overall survival after biliary drainage was 61 days (IQR 31–113); 95 days (IQR 51–548) in patients with and 34 days (IQR 10–63) in patients without functional success, p < 0.001 (Fig. 2). Median survival was 81 days (IQR 40–273) in patients who underwent biliary drainage to allow further oncologic therapy.

Median overall survival after biliary drainage was 61 days (IQR 31–113); 95 days (IQR 51–548) in patients with and 34 days (IQR 10–63) in patients without functional success, p < 0.001 (Fig. 2). Median survival was 81 days (IQR 40–273) in patients who underwent biliary drainage to allow further oncologic therapy.

Keep the skin around your biliary catheter dry. You can take showers if you cover the area with plastic wrap.

Biliary drainage is a thin to thick, golden yellow, brown, green or occasionally clear to white fluid. It flows from the gallbladder and liver, through the common bile duct, to the small intestine.

If the bile is starting to smell, that means an infection is starting.

Percutaneous biliary drainage and stenting are established and well reported methods used to relieve jaundice. Clinical success rates vary between 75 and 98% in various reports (17). In the present study, a slightly lower successful drainage rate (76.5%) was observed.

Death from obstructive jaundice in the first few weeks of its course is quite rare and is only occasionally observed. After a period varying from four to six months, however, patients suffering from occlusion of the common bile duct usually deteriorate rapidly and die.

If the hole is too far in, the bile duct peripheral to the catheter may become obstructed and leak along the course of the catheter. A careful cholangiogram and meticulous tube placement solve these problems. Another common cause of leakage is clogging of the side-holes of the catheter with viscous bile.

Sleep on your back or left side, not on your stomach or right side. After gallbladder surgery, your incisions will be on the right side of your belly where your gallbladder is.

How often should a biliary drain dressing be changed? ›

Changing the dressing

Change your dressing (split gauze sponges, gauze, and tape) every 3 days, or as advised by your healthcare provider. Change it more often if it becomes wet, dirty, or loose.

Are there any after effects of a biliary drainage? After the procedure, you may need to recover from the effects of any sedation or anaesthetic medications that were used. There is usually some initial discomfort or pain where the tube passes through the skin.

You will flush the drain with 5–10cc of sterile saline daily as instructed. Flushing the drain will keep the tube functioning properly. After flushing, empty the drainage bag and record the output.

When should I see my healthcare provider after a biliary drainage procedure? Call your healthcare provider or seek immediate medical care if you have symptoms of infection, like: Increased pain, swelling, warmth or skin discoloration near the drain site. Pus or fluid leaking from the drain site.

How long does a biliary drainage catheter stay in? A biliary drainage catheter is typically changed every 2 to 3 months. The exact amount of time you need the catheter and drainage bag may vary based on your condition and how often you need to empty the bag.

Empty the reservoir at least two times a day, even if it's not full. You may need to empty it more than twice if it gets full. Change the dressing around the wound at least once a day, or more often if it becomes soaked or dirty. “Milk” the tubing every four hours while you are awake.

Jackson Pratt (JP) drain care: Strip the drains using an alcohol swab and empty three times daily or whenever drain appears full.

Your drain will usually be in place for at least 6 weeks. This will help to prevent any bile leaking from your gallbladder once the drain is removed. In some cases it may be necessary to have the drain for a longer period or until the date of surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Cholecystostomy drain care includes wound care, flushing the tube and emptying the bag daily. Wound care: You'll need to keep your wound dressing clean and dry.