What is biliary drainage?

Your doctor or ostomy nurse can answer any questions you have about caring for your drain or bag.

Caring for the drain site

You may have a bandage on your skin where the tube comes out of your body. Your doctor will tell you how often to change it. To change the bandage:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Take off the bandage from around the drain site.
3. Clean the drain site and the skin around it with soap and water. Use gauze or a cotton swab.
4. When the site is dry, you can put on a new bandage. First, cut a slit in the bandage, and then fit it around the drain site.

Caring for the tube

To keep the tube clear, flush it with sterile saline. Your doctor will tell you how and when to do this.

Caring for the bag

Empty the bile from your bag when it’s about 2/3 full, or at least once a day.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. If your doctor requested it, make a note of the amount of bile in the bag.
3. Open the drainage port at the bottom of the bag.
4. Empty the contents of the bag into the toilet.
5. Clean the drainage port with soap and water, and close it.
6. Wash your hands again with soap and water.

If the bag breaks or tears, replace it as soon as possible.