Patient Instructions after Lymphatic Intervention for Plastic Bronchitis
Important Information
Learn more about plastic bronchitis, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Instructions for care after lymphatic intervention
Wound Care
The needle insertion points will take about 2 to 3 weeks to heal.
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Keep the needle insertion site clean and dry.
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Clean the site with mild soap and water once a day and when it is soiled. Pat dry. Continue to do this until a scab forms.
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Babies should have the site cleaned with every diaper change.
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Diapers and underwear can irritate the site. You may cover the site with a bandage, but it is best to leave it uncovered as much as possible. If you choose to use a bandage, change it every time your child goes to the bathroom or gets a diaper change.
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Your child may not take a tub bath until the site has a scab, usually in about 1 week.
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Do not put cream or ointment on the site for 7 days or until after the site has scabbed.
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Your child may have a bruise near the catheter insertion site. This may take 1-2 weeks to go away.
Activities
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Your child may return to school 2 days after discharge. They may walk up and down stairs and to classes.
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Limit rough activities for 1 week after discharge unless otherwise instructed by their healthcare team. Examples of activities to avoid include swimming, climbing trees, jumping rope, bicycling, gym class, and contact sports.
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Your child should not lift anything that weighs more than 5 pounds for 1 week.
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Your child should be able to do more activity with less pain after 2 weeks.
Diet
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Your child should eat a low-fat diet for 2 weeks after the procedure. Encourage fruits, vegetables, and iron rich foods like green leafy vegetables and red meat.
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After eating the low-fat diet for 2 weeks, your child may return to their regular diet.
Medicines
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Your child should take all prescribed medicines according to the discharge instructions.
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After the lymphatic intervention, your child should not need inhaled medicines as often.
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If your child needs to restart any plastic bronchitis therapies such as inhaled tPA/heparin, Theravest™, albuterol, or inhaled steroids, call the Lymphatic Center as soon as possible.
Follow-up Care
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Keep all follow up appointments.
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Schedule an appointment with your cardiologist or primary care provider within 1- 2 weeks after discharge.
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We will let you know if your child needs to continue to follow up with the Lymphatic Center at CHOP after discharge.
When to call your child’s healthcare provider
Call the cardiologist or your primary care provider if your child has:
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Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Shortness of breath
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Difficulty breathing
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Extreme tiredness
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Increasing pain
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Signs of infection at the catheter insertion site:
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Increase in swelling
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Redness
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Drainage
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Odor
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Coolness or color change (grey, blue) in the arm or leg
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Tingling in the arm or leg, or trouble walking
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Increase in the size of the bruise at the needle insertion site
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No improvement activity level by 2 weeks after the procedure
Call the Lymphatic Center as soon as possible if:
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Plastic bronchitis symptoms return or your child is hospitalized for increased symptoms, such as coughing up bronchial casts, oxygen levels below baseline
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Your child restarts or increases plastic bronchitis therapies
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Monday-Friday 9am-5pm: 267-426-9600
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After 5pm, weekends and holidays: 215-590-1000, ask the hospital operator for the Lymphatic Attending on-call.
Please use this QR code to fill out our lymphatic follow up form after discharge.
Complete at: 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months.
Reviewed 6/26/2024 by Erin Pinto, CRNP