What do I do for proper skin care around my nephrostomy catheter?
Because your catheter is on your back, you will need help. • Keep the skin around your nephrostomy catheter dry. You can take a shower, but cover the area with plastic wrap. Tape the edges of the plastic wrap to your skin so that water cannot get under it. If the area should get wet, dry the skin completely after your shower. • Keep the skin around your nephrostomy catheter clean. Clean the area every day to every other day with a cotton swab that has bee moistened with peroxide. Always wash your hands before you clean the catheter site. • Keep the skin around your nephrostomy catheter covered. After you have cleaned the skin at the catheter insertion site, cover the area with a clean bandage or dressing. Change the dressing if it gets wet. What are the signs of a skin infection and what should I do for it? The signs are redness, soreness, and sometimes swelling of the skin around the catheter. If you notice any of these, follow these instructions unless your doctor specifies otherwise
