Remember, the following information is only a guideline. Your
nurse or physician may change these instructions according to your
individual needs.

Your dressing should initially be changed twice a day (morning
and bedtime).

In addition to routine changes, the dressing should be changed
promptly if you have:

1. moisture under the dressing
2. a loose dressing
3. a wet or soiled dressing

Gather the supplies you will need for cleaning the exit site and
applying a new dressing:

• sterile 2 x 2 inch gauze pads
• bandaging tape
• antibiotic cream
• soap and water
• scissors

Removing the Dressing

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water and dry thoroughly.

Figure 6

2. Carefully remove the old dressing, making sure not to pull on
   the C-tube when removing the tape. (Figure 6)

• !! Caution: Never use scissors around the C-tube or to remove
  the dressing. You could accidentally damage the C-tube.

3. Inspect the exit site and the area around the C-tube. Look for
   redness, swelling, pain, discharge, or loose sutures.

• !! Caution: If the sutures are loose, re-roll the gauze so that
  it is snug to the skin. (You will be removing your sutures
  two weeks after you leave the hospital. See page 35 for
  more details.)
             
• ! Important: If you have any tenderness, redness, itching,
  swelling, etc. around your temporary or Trapdoor ™ C-tube,
  notify your doctor or nurse immediately. These could be
  signs of an infection.