Frequently Asked Patient Questions (FAQs)

Yes, if the catheter has been rolled up into a snail and placed on the dressing material and the shower foil dressing carefully encloses the complete dressing material. Our recommendation: Shower before performing drainage and dressing changes. If the dressing gets soaked during showering, it will be renewed in such a timely manner.

The skin suture (the suture farthest from the catheter exit site) can be removed after 10 days and the tether suture (the suture directly at the catheter exit site) can be removed after 30 days. Stitches are usually removed on an outpatient basis at the hospital where the catheter was implanted. However, thread removal can also be performed by the general practitioner.

There is no time limit for the catheter. Provided that no signs of infection, such as redness, swelling or hyperthermia are associated with the catheter and that good functionality of the catheter is ensured, the catheter remains in place and is not changed. If you are unsure, ask your treating physician.

The drainage material is delivered by the company ewimed directly to your home by a parcel service against a corresponding prescription from your family doctor. The prescription drainage material is not available through medical supply stores or pharmacies.

For more information, please refer to the ewimed care concept.

You can also use the drainage material abroad. You must make sure to order enough drainage material in advance when preparing for your trip. Please also observe the usual disposal regulations of the respective country.

Yes, they will receive in-person training on effusion drainage from our training staff after discharge from the hospital. He will explain and demonstrate step-by-step what you need to consider for this. Finally, he will also hand you our patient folder, in which all the information is available for you to read again.

If an effusion no longer forms or if your treating physicians decide to remove the catheter for other reasons, the catheter can also be removed again under a local anesthetic.

Yes, we have a long experience in drainage of pleural effusions and ascites. Year after year, several thousand patients receive a pleural catheter and thus regain a piece of their quality of life and mobility.

No, we usually provide one-time training for you, your relatives or even involved care services on how to use the drainage system and ordering. However, if nursing services were not involved from the beginning, for example, follow-up training occurs in individual cases.

Yes, by draining the effusions, complaints such as shortness of breath or a feeling of tension in the abdomen do not occur and you become more mobile and resilient in everyday life again.

In principle, showering with the catheter is possible. However, prolonged contact with water should be avoided. So swimming or bathing are not possible. Visiting a sauna is also not recommended, as the high temperatures may cause the catheter valve to leak.

Talk about this with your treating physician before your trip. He can give you information about this, depending on your individual condition.

In any case, if you are going on a long trip, you should also remember to order enough drainage material in advance.

If you experience any discomfort regarding your catheter or effusion while traveling, consult a local physician immediately.

Yes, improper handling may cause damage to the catheter. Please be sure to read the operating instructions carefully.

No, the drainage set is intended for single use and must not be used more than once for hygienic reasons and the risk of infection.

After drainage, please dispose of the used drainage material in the household waste. Please observe the local regulations for disposal here. Contained plastics do not have to be separated.

If you still do not feel any relief in breathing after drainage has been performed, contact your treating physician. Your doctor or the clinic treating you knows your disease course and can tell you the cause after an examination.

If the effusion color or composition changes, this is not an acutely threatening situation. Your attending physician can explain what is causing this based on your disease history. However, if there is blood in the effusion, you should see your doctor immediately.

If effusion flow stops during drainage, several reasons may be the trigger. The most pleasant reason is that there is no more effusion. If this happens more often, see your doctor and possibly the catheter can even be explanted. Another reason could be a blockage of the drainage tube, which can be caused by a viscous effusion. In this case, you can try to mobilize the blockage by gently “milking” the drainage tube so that the effusion flows again, or the catheter must be flushed. Contact your treating physician about this.

How can I “milk the catheter?”
In preparation, the catheter must be connected to a reservoir so that the blockage and any accumulation of effusion can drain directly. Put on disposable gloves and moisten them with hand sanitizer to allow the catheter to slide between your fingers. If large particles are visible, press them together. Then use one hand to hold the catheter near the exit site so that there is not much traction at the exit site. With the other hand, squeeze the catheter near the exit site and stroke it out in the direction of the safety valve. If nothing comes loose, repeat the procedure several times.

If you feel pain when draining the fluid, stop the drainage using the clamp on the drainage tube and pause for a while. If the pain does not subside or recurs when the drainage is resumed, you should consult your physician.