To flush a drain bag, you must disconnect it from the patient, prepare the flushing port, inject the flush, and then reconnect the drain bag system. Here's the precise procedure:
-
Turn off the stopcock to the drainage bag: This isolates the bag from the rest of the system. The three-way stopcock needs to be oriented to block flow to the drain bag itself.
-
Clean the flushing port: Using an alcohol swab, thoroughly clean the flushing port to maintain sterility and prevent infection.
-
Attach the flush syringe: Connect a pre-filled syringe (usually with sterile saline solution) to the cleaned flushing port.
-
Gently inject the flush: Slowly inject the saline solution from the syringe through the port to flush the drainage tube or catheter. Avoid forceful injections.
-
Turn the stopcock off to the flushing port and open to the bag: Rotate the stopcock to block the flushing port and open the connection to the drainage bag. This allows any fluid pushed past the blockage to flow freely into the drainage bag. The system is now reconnected.
