How to Care For Nephrostomy
Nephrostomy is a procedure performed to drain urine directly from the kidneys via a catheter. This intervention is carried out when there is an obstruction in the ureter, which is normally responsible for transporting urine from the kidneys to the bladder. So, how to care for nephrostomy? Check out the following explanation.
Nephrostomy is typically performed in cases of urinary obstruction caused by urinary tract infections, kidney stones, tumors, anatomical abnormalities, physical injuries, inflammation, or cancer that results in damage or leakage of the ureter. Furthermore, nephrostomy may also serve as a conduit to assist in other medical procedures, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Nephrostomy Procedure Steps
Before the nephrostomy procedure is performed, a thorough assessment of your health will be carried out by the doctor. The physician will ask about your ongoing treatments, as there are specific medications that may need to be paused prior to the nephrostomy. Furthermore, it is typical for the doctor to advise you to refrain from eating for 4 to 6 hours before the procedure takes place.
After fulfilling the required criteria and being ready for the nephrostomy, the doctor will inject anesthetic fluid or medication to pain eliminate. The nephrostomy procedure may take approximately 20 minutes; however, it could also last over 90 minutes, contingent upon your overall health status.
In the nephrostomy procedure, a catheter is introduced through the skin and directed towards the kidney. The physician may employ ultrasound or CT scan to facilitate the precise placement of the catheter. After successful insertion, the catheter will be linked to a urine collection bag.
The channels established during this procedure can be maintained for a specific duration, depending on your needs and physical condition. Some may last only a few days, while others can be sustained for several months.
How to Care For Nephrostomy
Once the nephrostomy procedure has been performed, the doctor will provide instructions on how to care for the nephrostomy tube. This guidance is crucial, as appropriate maintenance is required to ensure the quality and functionality of the nephrostomy.
Some things you should pay attention to when checking the condition of the nephrostomy tube and bag are:
- Ensure that the bandage is maintained in a dry, clean condition and is positioned appropriately.
- Assess the condition of the skin surrounding the nephrostomy tube insertion site to determine if there are any signs of rash or redness.
- It is essential to observe the urine in the bag. You should examine its color and empty it when it becomes full.
- It is important to confirm that the tubing is not folded or twisted as such conditions can impede the passage of urine.
The following steps are general instructions for safe care of urinary drainage tubes and bags:
- Prior to providing care for the nephrostomy, ensure that you wash your hands and wear disposable gloves.
- Replace the bandage and catheter adhesive on the skin every seven days. Clean the skin surrounding the catheter using gauze, water, and soap.
- When the drainage bag is full, it should be emptied and replaced with a clean bag.
- Clean the tip of the drainage bag connector with alcohol or povidone iodine prior to reattaching the drainage bag to the tubing.
- Ensure that the catheter tubing remains securely connected to the drainage bag and adheres to the body to minimize the risk of positional changes.
- Utilize a larger drainage bag during nighttime and while taking afternoon naps to accommodate a greater volume of urine.
The nephrostomy procedure is considered safe to perform. In fact, in certain cases, this procedure is essential to prevent the deterioration of health conditions. However, it is important to acknowledge that there remains a risk of complications associated with nephrostomy.
Therefore, it is imperative to consult a physician promptly if you experience persistent or worsening back pain, blood in the urine, fever, vomiting, foul-smelling urine, or discomfort in the skin surrounding the catheter after undergoing a nephrostomy procedure.
That is an explanation of how to care for nephrostomy, hopefully the explanation above can be useful.
