Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube: Changing the Dressing and Showering

• Change your dressing every 2 to 3 days.
• Change your dressing if it gets wet or dirty.

To get ready:

1. Get your supplies.
   1. Soap and water
   2. Gauze
   3. Clear, waterproof tape (such as Tegaderm™)
2. Wash your hands with soap and water.

To change the dressing:

1. Take off the old dressing.
2. Check where the tube enters your skin for redness, swelling, and drainage. Look at the tube for bends or kinks.
3. Clean your skin around the tube with soap and water.
4. Pat your skin dry with gauze.
5. Put dry, folded, or rolled gauze all around the tube.
6. Cover the area with tape like in this picture.

You can buy dressing supplies from:

• A drugstore near you
• Online
• The UI Home Solutions – Medical Supply Store (Medical Center University Campus, Roy Carver Pavilion, Level 1)

• Only take showers. Do not take tub baths or swim where your tube would be under water.
• During your shower, you can cover the dressing with 2 layers of plastic wrap. Tape around the edges of the plastic wrap so water cannot get in. You can shower with the dressing off if:
  • You are only washing with antibacterial soap, such as Dial®.
  • You are not using hair products like shampoo or conditioner.
  • You make sure your tube is not pulled while you shower.
  • You let your skin dry after the shower before putting on a new dressing.
• After your shower, put on a new dressing. Take off the plastic wrap before putting on a new dressing if you covered your dressing during your shower.