Going home with a drain or catheter after a crash
A surgical nurse and a trauma surgeon on daily checks and when to call
Coming home with a tube in your body can be scary, even when it’s part of the recovery plan. A surgical drain removes fluid from near the surgery site. A urinary catheter drains urine from the bladder. Each one comes with its own care instructions. A surgical nurse shows you the daily routine. Your surgeon decides how long the device stays in and which changes need a closer look. [1, 2]
Learn exactly which device you have
Before you leave the hospital, ask what the device is called, what it does and when it should come out. Have someone show you how to keep it secure and how to empty or change the collection container. Also learn how to clean the skin around it. Then show them the steps yourself. Get a list of supplies and an after hours number. Don’t use the instructions for one kind of tube on another. [1, 2]
Keep a short record of the output
With a bulb drain, your team may ask you to measure the fluid. They may want a log of the amount, the time and how it looks. Ask what change in color or amount matters. With a urinary catheter, make sure urine is flowing and the tubing isn’t kinked. Keep the bag where you were told to keep it. Don’t disconnect the tubing or handle it more than your care plan calls for. [1, 2]
Keep the device from snagging on clothes or furniture. A small bag or clip may help if your team says it’s OK. Put your supplies within reach so you don’t tug on the tube. Trouble seeing or handling the device? Ask for a helper or a home nursing plan before you leave. [1, 2]
Catch problems early
Call your care team if the tube falls out or stops draining when it shouldn’t. Call, too, if it leaks around the site or loses its usual suction. Report fever, chills, new pain, redness that spreads, a bad smell or cloudy fluid. With a urinary catheter, call if urine stops flowing. Also call for pain in your pelvis or flank, the side below the ribs. Do not push a tube back in if it slips out. [1, 2]
Living with a device can also take an emotional toll. Ask how to shower, sleep, get to appointments and get dressed without pulling it loose. A clear routine often makes the tube easier to handle. It also makes unusual changes easier to spot. [1, 2]
- What is this device, and when will it be checked or taken out?
- What output should I measure or write down?
- Who do I call if it stops working tonight?
Put your care steps on one page
Sources and further reading
Surgical nursing and trauma surgery are the lenses for this general guide. Care differs from one device to another, so follow your own training and written instructions. Never take out or replace a tube yourself unless you were specifically trained and told to do it.
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