Abscess drainage using image guidance: Caring for your child at home after the drainage tube removal

​Your child has had an abscess drained using ultrasound and/or X-ray imaging guidance. The information on this page explains how to care for your child at home after the drainage tube has been removed, and when to call for help.

Discharge from the hospital

In most cases, children go home only after the drainage tube is removed. Your child’s doctor will let you know when your child is well enough to go home.

Stitches

For most abscess drainages, your child will not need any stitches.

Dressing care

Your child will have a dressing or bandage over the site of the drainage tube. You can take the dressing off after 24 hours. If the dressing gets wet or dirty, take it off and replace it with a clean adhesive bandage.

Bathing

Your child can have a bath or shower one day after the drainage tube is removed. However, try to keep the bandage dry. If the bandage gets wet, take it off and replace it with a new, clean, dry bandage.

Meals

If your child is feeling well enough after the sedation or anaesthetic, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is recommended that your child follow any special diet that has been prescribed to them by their primary health-care team. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure.

Pain relief

If needed, give your child acetaminophen for pain. Do not give your child any medicines that might increase the risk of bleeding, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or ibuprofen, without checking with your child's health-care provider first.

Activity

After the abscess drainage procedure and removal of the drainage tube, your child will need to rest and stay home from school or daycare. Make sure they avoid any strenuous physical activity for the first two days (48 hours). Your child may return to school 24-48 hours after the drain or catheter is removed.

When to see a doctor

Call your child's doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department right away if your child shows any of the following symptoms:

• Fever over 38°C (100.4°F)
• Throwing up (vomiting) that does not stop
• Severe pain at or near the drainage site
• Bleeding or swelling around the drainage site
• Significant discharge through the drainage site
• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• General weakness and feeling tired

At SickKids

If you have any concerns in the first 48 hours, call the Image Guided Therapy (IGT) clinic at (416) 813-7654 ext. 201804. Speak to the IGT clinic nurse during working hours or leave a non-urgent message.

If you have concerns and it is after working hours, see your family doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You can also call the Hospital for Sick Children switchboard at (416) 813-7500 and ask them to page a member of your child’s health-care team or the interventional radiology fellow on call.