10.3: Drainages and equipment
Drainage schedule and frequency
The aim of having an IPC is to manage the symptoms of your pleural effusion, while minimising interruptions to your life. How often it is drained will depend on your symptoms and how quickly the fluid comes back. This may reduce over time. Aiming to drain a specific amount is often not helpful. The only possible exception to this is if you are having daily drainages to try and reduce the time to ‘pleurodesis’ (when the fluid has stopped forming and the drain can be removed). Your IPC team will talk to you about the drainage plan when it is first inserted.
If draining the fluid is causing you discomfort, it is important to ask the community nurse to stop and speak to the team responsible for your IPC for advice. It is ok to move the drainage to another day if you have an important appointment or activity you do not want to miss. It would be sensible to see your community nurse at least once a week to check for signs of infection or other problems with the IPC, even if you do not need a drainage. The key is to adjust the IPC drainages to what works for you to manage your symptoms and fit around your life and the things you want to do. Some people are able to be trained to drain their IPC themselves, or to have a family member do it.
Bottles, dressings and other supplies
You are given an initial supply of bottles and dressings when your IPC is inserted. Going forward, either your community nurse will request bottles for ongoing drainage, or your GP or specialist doctor can provide a prescription for you to arrange ongoing supply from a pharmacy. Your community nurse should be able to provide additional dressings and they should be available from most pharmacies. If there are difficulties getting supplies, you or your community nurses can contact the team responsible for your IPC.
Used bottles
Advice varies depending on where you live and the type of IPC you have. In some places you will be issued a specific bin, elsewhere you will need to bring them to your GP practice or council and in some cases you may be able to dispose of them with your usual household waste. Ask your community nurse what the current advice is where you live.
How long will the IPC stay in?
The IPC is designed to stay in long-term. If the fluid stops coming back it may be removed. If you want it to be removed sooner, discuss this with the team that looks after your IPC.
Follow-up appointments
As well as regular community nurse visits, in most cases you will have a follow-up appointment with the team responsible for your IPC after insertion (the timing of this will vary). If you have any issues between appointments, contact the responsible team or seek medical attention if you are unable to reach them.
Difficulties draining your IPC?
Some people are trained to drain their own IPC. If you are having difficulties, contact your community nurse or the team responsible for your IPC. Many of the device manufacturers provide information to support with this on their websites (see below).
Links to resources from manufacturers:
Rocket Medical:
- https://rocketmedicalipc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Rocket-Patient-Peritoneal-Drainage-Booklet-US.pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GET4X3djwsA
BD PleurX
Passio
Aspira