This information explains how to use a povidone-iodine solution (such as Betadine®) to manage a lymphocele (a collection of fluid in your body).
About Lymphoceles
After your procedure, you may have a lymphocele in your body. A lymphocele is a collection of fluid that may form in a space in your body after a procedure. Your healthcare provider will drain the space with a catheter (a flexible tube) to remove the fluid. If the collection continues to drain, your healthcare provider may recommend you use a povidone-iodine solution to stop the drainage.
Povidone-iodine solution is a liquid usually used to clean a person’s skin before a procedure. Flushing the area with povidone-iodine solution will help seal the walls of the area so that fluid no longer fills the space. This is called sclerosis.
How to Flush Your Lymphocele with Povidone-Iodine
Follow these steps to use the povidone-iodine solution to manage your lymphocele. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for how often to do this.
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Gather the supplies your nurse gave you on a clean surface. You’ll need:
- 1 (5 mL) syringe
- A bottle of povidone-iodine solution (such as Betadine®)
- The container your nurse gave you
- 2 alcohol wipes
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Pour povidone-iodine solution into the container. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for how much povidone-iodine solution to use.
- Place the tip of the syringe into the container and pull the plunger to fill the syringe with the amount of povidone-iodine solution your healthcare provider recommended.
- Place the syringe down on the table. Make sure the tip of the syringe doesn’t touch anything.
- Sit or lie comfortably. Turn the stopcock toward the drainage bag.
- Rub the needleless connector on the stopcock with an alcohol wipe for 15 to 30 seconds.
- Place the syringe onto the needleless connector.
- Hold the connector while you push and turn the syringe clockwise (to the right) to lock it into position.
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Push the plunger of the syringe to push the povidone-iodine solution into your catheter. Never pull back on the plunger. Always push forward.
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If you have any of the following while flushing, don’t try to put in any more povidone-iodine into your catheter. Stop and call your healthcare provider’s office if you:
- Feel pain
- Have trouble pushing the povidone-iodine solution into the catheter
- See leaking around the catheter
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If you have any of the following while flushing, don’t try to put in any more povidone-iodine into your catheter. Stop and call your healthcare provider’s office if you:
- When the syringe is empty, turn it counterclockwise (to the left) and remove it. Throw the syringe away in your regular trash.
- Leave the stopcock turned towards the drainage bag for 1 to 2 hours to allow the povidone-iodine to work.
- After 1 to 2 hours, turn the stopcock back to the direction of the needleless connector. You’ll see fluid drain into the bag.