Nephrostomy tube home care (1154)

Key points below


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

Drainage bag

Bathing

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has:

  • Not had any drainage from the tube for more than 2 hours or overnight.  Before you call the doctor, make sure the tube is not kinked.
  • An increase of blood in the urine. Some blood may be present for several days. 
  • Redness or green/yellow drainage at the tube site. Some redness is normal.
  • The drain falls out. Put a gauze dressing over the drain site before calling.
  • Signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection or has pain in the side.
  • A temperature over 101.5°F (38.5°C).
  • Cloudy urine that does not clear up when they drink more fluids.
  • Urine leaking around the nephrostomy tube.
  • Special health care needs that were not covered by this information.