Pigtail Drainage
Pigtail Drainage
A drain is a small tube that lets unwanted fluid out of the body. A pigtail drain is a type of drain used to let fluid out of the area around the lungs or abdomen.
A special doctor, called a radiologist or surgeon, will put a drain in if your child needs it. If the drain is placed outside surgery, they numb the area where the drain is placed. The procedure usually does not hurt. If the drain is placed during surgery, your child will be under anesthesia.
Your child’s pigtail drain is 1 of the types below. Which type depends on where it is. Your child might have:
- Pleural drain – Used in the lung area
- Peritoneal drain – Used in the belly abdomen
- Nephrostomy tube – Used in the kidney
If your child has a pigtail drain, you will need to take care of it when you are not in the hospital. You can take care of it by flushing it and changing the dressing. It is important to flush the drain at least once a day. This prevents clots and helps the fluid drain easily.
Change the dressing:
- As often as your care team tells you to change it
- Any time it is wet, loose, or dirty
How to flush a pigtail drain
Supplies needed
- Saline flush
- Red cap
- Alcohol pads or Site Scrubs®
Preparing for the flush
- Clean your work area with an alcohol pad or other disinfectant.
- Clean your hands with soap and water and dry them well. Or use an alcohol-based liquid or foam hand cleaner.
- Gather your supplies and place them on the clean work area.
- Open each package but leave the items inside until you are ready to use them. This helps make sure the items stay sterile (free of germs).
Flush the drain
- Turn the tap so the word “OFF” points to your child. This keeps body fluid from leaking into the tube.
- Clean the flush port with an alcohol pad and let it dry by itself. Do not blow on it or fan it.
- Attach the saline flush.
- Open the tap so the open side is toward your child. The word “OFF” points to the bag.
- Gently flush the tube with 3 ml of saline. Do not force the flush.
- Turn the tap so the word “OFF” points to your child. Gently flush the tube with 3 ml of saline.
- Turn the tap so the open side points to the flushing port. This lets fluid drain from your child’s body into the bag. Remove the syringe.
- Clean the flush port with a new alcohol pad.
- Put the new red cap on the port.
- Clean your hands again.