Nephrostomy Tube Home Care

What is a nephrostomy tube?

This tube lets urine drain directly from your child’s kidney.  The urine drains into a drainage bag.

Home care instructions 

Dressing changes

  • The staff will talk with you about how often to change your child’s dressing.
  • Change the dressing if it gets wet. After the area is dry, put on a clean dressing.
  • Your child’s doctor or nurse will show you how to put on the dressing.

Drainage bag

  • Attach the bag to your child's clothes with a safety pin.
  • Empty the bag before it is half full. This keeps it from getting too heavy.

Bathing

  • Your child should not take a tub bath or shower until the doctor says it is okay to do so. Your child may have sponge baths.