- After completion of the procedure, the patient will need to stay in bed for at least 4 hours.
- Due to the risk of possible kidney injury with internal bleeding, a responsible adult should stay with the patient to observe for the following possible symptoms and inform the medical staff immediately：
- Drained fluid turning bloody or non-stop bloody fluid
- Change or loss of consciousness
- Rapid heart rate and/or lower blood pressure
- Look after your nephrostomy. There should be no pulling, bending or twisting of the tube.
- Pay attention to the amount and color of the drained fluid in the bag everyday. Empty the bag when it is half full.
- Schedule an appointment to change the drainage tube if there are signs of tube obstruction such as leaking from the wound, sudden decrease in drained volume, or evident debris buildup causing poor flow. Otherwise, the drainage tube should be changed every 3 months.
- If there is any fever or signs of sudden evident tube malfunction, go to the ER.
- Keep the wound clean and dry. Change wound dressing daily after proper cleaning and removal of buildup and sterilization.
Medical Procedure Preparation and Aftercare
- After completion of the procedure, the patient will need to stay in bed for at least 4 hours.
- Due to the risk of possible internal bleeding from liver injury, a responsible adult should stay with the patient to observe for the following possible symptoms and inform the medical staff immediately：
- Progressive abdominal distension
- Change or loss of consciousness
- Rapid heart rate and/or lowered blood pressure
- Look after your drainage tube. There should be no pulling, bending or twisting of the tube.
- Pay attention to the amount and color of the drained fluid in the bag everyday. Empty the bag when it is half full.
- Schedule an appointment to change the drainage tube if there are signs of tube obstruction such as leaking from the wound, sudden decrease in drained volume, or evident debris buildup causing poor flow. Otherwise, long term drainage tubes may be changed every 3 months.
- If there is any fever or signs of sudden evident tube malfunction, go to the ER.
- Keep the wound clean and dry. Change wound dressing daily after proper cleaning and removal of buildup and sterilization.
- After completion of the procedure, the patient will need to stay in bed for at least 6 hours. A pressure bag will be placed upon the wound 2 hours to prevent bleeding. If the puncture site is over the groin area, do not bend flex the hip or waist; keep the puncture side of the body straight throughout bed rest. Change position when instructed.
- Inform the medical staff if there are any signs of bleeding from the wound.
- Resume usual diet few hours after the angiogram or when instructed.
- After 6 hours, if there is no complications or signs of bleeding, you may sit up and take small walks. Avoid excessive activities, bending over, lifting heavy objects, climbing up and down stairs, showering, or driving.
- The wound dressing may be removed after 24 hours. Keep the wound dry and clean for 2 days.
- Inform the medical staff if there is any signs of wound bleeding or feeling of limb swelling or numbness.
- Safe and successful recovery without completion is essential. Please call our nurses to help with any physical needs including any bladder or bowel movement or soreness and stiffness from prolonged bed rest.
- Preparation：
- Other than a small amount of water, any food or drug is prohibited before the examination.
- If you have any chronic diseases, ask your doctor for instructions regarding your medications.
- If the procedure is scheduled for the following day, start fasting after midnight.
- After the examination：
- The procedure requires having a tube down your throat into your stomach with a small amount of air fed into your digestive tract. Common discomforts afterwards include sore throat, bloating, gas, and cramping. These symptoms will improve over time. Try gurgling with warm water to help ease sore throat.
- The medical staff will inform you of your primary results after the exam. Depending on the results, you may need to continue to fast afterwards.
- Inform the medical staff immediately if there is any spitting of blood, difficulty swallowing, or severe abdomen pain.
- Please call or ask our medical staff if there are any questions.
- Possible indications for drain insertion：
- Too much fluid or blood due to tumor growth, lymphatic obstruction, biliary tract obstruction, lung or heart disease…
- Infected fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity or the biliary tract.
- The drainage tube and drainage bag should be connected and sealed tightly. There should be no pulling, bending or twisting of the tube. Pin the bag onto your clothes using a safety pin. Avoid excessive or sudden movements that might result with the drainage tube slipping out. Keep the drainage bag lower than the puncture site to allow better flow.
- You should be able to continue normal daily activities without limitation. Empty drainage bag when getting out of bed. Be careful not to squeeze the bag.
- Keep the wound dry. Change wound dressing immediately after showering. Clean the skin around your tube every day using soap and water. You can cover the tube with sterile (germ-free) gauze if you like.
- Check the stitches attaching the tube to the skin during dressing change. Also check the positioning of the tube that it has not slipped out.
- Inform the medical stuff and ask for analgesics if there is pain.
- Depending on your condition, you may be discharged with the tube and bag. Follow-up as scheduled and continue to practice daily wound and tube care.
- Schedule an appointment to change the drainage tube if there are signs of tube obstruction such as leaking from the wound, sudden decrease in drained volume, or evident debris buildup causing poor flow. Otherwise, drainage tubes should be changed every 7 days.
- Visit the ER if there are the following conditions：
- Sudden increase or decrease drained amount
- Change or color or characteristics of the drained material
- Fever or chills, or redness, swelling, pain, discharge over the puncture site
- Dislodged tube *do not try to reinsert the tube, cover the wound with clean gauze and go to the ER*
- With appropriate post-procedure pressure, bleeding from the puncture site should be minimal. If there is any bruising or hematoma, try ice packing.
- Visit the ER if there are the following conditions：
- Sensation of coolness or numbness, or turning blue or grey on the limb surgery was performed
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Follow-up as scheduled. If there is any questions, feel free to call your doctor or the ER.
- The purpose of lumbar puncture is to collect the fluid around the spinal cord to obtain information regarding the central nervous system such as infection, bleeding, elevated pressure, and etc.
- The procedure is fairly straight forward although it may take a little while. The patient is asked to lie on the side and hug the knees. After sterilizing the back, sterile cloths (called drapes) will be placed around the area. A local anesthetic (pain-relieving medication) will be injected into the area on the back. Once the area is numb, a hollow needle is inserted in the lower back between two lumbar vertebrae. This sometimes causes pressure. The spinal canal is penetrated and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected. CSF is a colorless fluid surrounding the brain and spine. Approximately 500 mL of CSF is produced and reabsorbed per day.
- The patient is to lay flat for 8 hours after the procedure. Do not elevat the head, bend the knees, sit up, or get out of bed. Ask the medical staff to help with any discomforts or needs (e.g. soreness or voiding)
- Avoid strenuous or vigorous exercise for a day or so following the lumbar puncture.
- If you have a headache, lay down as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids. Inform your health care provider if the headache persists.
- If no contraindication, try and drink at least 2L of liquid the day of the lumbar puncture and the day after (regardless of headache).
- Return to the emergency department or inform your medical staff as soon as possible if there are following symptoms：
- Unusual drainage, including bloody discharge, at the puncture site
- Fever
- Persistent severe headache
- To observe for possible transfusion reaction, infusion is slow for the first 15 minutes (rate at around one drop of blood every 2-3 seconds). If there are chills, fever, or shortness of breath, please inform the medical staff immediately.
- The transfusion needle catheter is soft and flexible. You may move your limbs during transfusion. If there is any redness, swelling, pain, or oozing blood around the catheter, please inform the nurse.
- The listed are possible transfusion reactions. Inform the nurse immediately if you have any of the following：
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Skin rash
- Generalized skin itch
- Red urine