Capital Region Health Park
711 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Suite 113
Latham, New York 12110

(518) 262-5149

Gary Siskin, MD
Meridith Englander, MD
Kenneth Mandato, MD
Allen Herr, MD
Gail Sansivero, ANP
Nancy Mitchell, FNP
Christopher Doti, FNP
Sharon Ryan, LPN

Discharge Biliary Drainage

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS: BILIARY DRAINAGE CATHETER PLACEMENT

You have just undergone a procedure called Biliary Drainage Catheter Placement.  During this procedure, a tube is placed directly into the bile ducts of the liver in order to drain bile from the liver.  Sometimes, these tube drain bile from the liver directly outside of the body (external drainage).  If that is the case, the bile will drain directly into a bag that is attached to the tube.  Other times, these tubes extend internally from the liver to the intestines (internal drainage).  If that is the case, the bile will drain normally into the intestines.  You will know if your tube is draining internally because it will not be attached to a bag.  Instead, an internally draining tube will be “capped”.

1. If the holes in the catheter become blocked with debris, you may experience symptoms, which include fever and/or chills, abdominal or back pain, or a very wet bandage.  If any of these symptoms occur, please attach the biliary drainage catheter to a drainage bag and call our office at (518) 262-5149 or (518) 262-4008.  During evening hours, please call (518) 262-3125 and ask to speak with the Interventional Radiologist on call. 
   
   
2. If your catheter is draining externally, please make sure that there no kinks in the tubing since this can obstruct the flow of bile.
   
   
3. If the catheter becomes dislodged or pulled out, please call our office immediately so that the tube can be replaced.  We are most successful at replacing tubes when we attempt to replace them shortly after they have fallen out.  If your tube does fall out, please call our office at (518) 262-5149 or (518) 262-4008.  During evening hours, please call (518) 262-3125 and ask to speak with the Interventional Radiologist on call. 
   
   
4. Please change the bandage around the catheter once per week or if it is soiled or wet. 
   
   
5. The catheter should be flushed once a day in order to clean any debris out of the holes in the catheter.  Flush with 10 ml of saline.  Push the saline in towards the catheter (not the drainage bag).  Flush slowly in only.  Do not pull back fluid into the syringe.  By pulling the solution back into the syringe, you may pull the debris back into the catheter.  If you have any questions, please call our office at (518) 262-5149 or (518) 262-4008.  During evening hours, please call (518) 262-3125 and ask to speak with the Interventional Radiologist on call.
   
   
   

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