Things to know about the treatment option with a pleural or pertional catheter
Are you a nurse caring for a patient who has had a tunneled indwelling catheter implanted to treat a pleural effusion or ascites and would like to find out more about our drainage system and concept for treating the patient?
Things to know about the treatment option with a pleural or pertional catheter
Are you a nurse caring for a patient who has had a tunneled indwelling catheter implanted to treat a pleural effusion or ascites and would like to find out more about our drainage system and concept for treating the patient?
When is a tunneled indwelling catheter for intermittent drainage at home indicated?
In patients with malignant and benign tumors, heart failure or liver cirrhosis, a therapy-refractory, recurrent pleural effusion (pleural cavity) and/or ascites (abdominal cavity) may develop as an accompanying symptom. Dyspnoea, pain, fatigue and weight gain are the result. In order to improve the quality of life and mobility of the affected person, a permanent catheter is implanted as part of a low-risk surgical procedure in hospital.
Hospital discharge procedure and medical prescription for drainage at home
After implantation of a tunneled pleural or ascites catheter, drainage and dressing changes are performed in the hospital or clinic before discharge. The patient may return home or to the nursing home after implantation, often on the same day or after one to three days. The hospital or clinic sends a doctor’s prescription to ewimed Switzerland AG. With this prescription, we are informed about the appropriate drainage sets, the expected drainage volume and the drainage interval.
Benefits of the ewimed Switzerland AG service and care concept for you and your patients
Our aim is to provide the patient with the best possible care together with you. The ewimed service and care concept guarantees fast, personal and complete instruction for safe, simple and cost-effective handling of the catheter and drainage systems.
A member of staff from the ewimed Switzerland AG service department will contact you, the patient and/or their relatives promptly by telephone to arrange an appointment for instructions. The prescribed drainage set will be sent to the patient’s home or nursing home so that the patient can be drained promptly after discharge from hospital or clinic.
Instructions for performing drainage and medical consumables
The ewimed Switzerland AG product specialist will bring one or two drainage sets to the patient’s home or nursing home for safety reasons. The first drainage is carried out step by step under supervision and it is explained in detail how you should carry out a hygienic, temporary drainage and dressing change under sterile conditions. Our product specialist will be happy to answer many other questions on site. Finally, you will receive a folder with all the important documents for you to read, for carrying out the drainage, reordering and the payment process.
We recommend that you have a hand disinfectant and an alcohol-based skin disinfectant, e.g. Kodan, available as a precaution.
We have compiled the most important steps and information for you on the drainage of pleural effusions and ascites with the drainage system.
