Drain (surgery): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:15, 22 March 2025

A device used to remove fluid from a wound or body cavity

Drain (surgery)[edit]

A surgical drain is a tube used to remove pus, blood, or other fluids from a wound. They are commonly used in various surgical procedures to prevent the accumulation of fluids, which can lead to infection or other complications. Drains are typically placed during surgery and can be left in place for several days, depending on the type of surgery and the amount of fluid being drained.

Types of Surgical Drains[edit]

Surgical drains can be classified into several types based on their mechanism of action and the type of fluid they are designed to remove.

Passive Drains[edit]

Passive drains rely on gravity and capillary action to remove fluid from a wound. They do not have any suction and are often used when the fluid is expected to drain naturally. Examples include:

Penrose drain: A soft, flexible tube made of latex that allows fluid to exit the wound by capillary action.
Cigarette drain: A Penrose drain with a gauze strip inside to increase the surface area for drainage.

Active Drains[edit]

Active drains use suction to remove fluid from a wound. They are connected to a vacuum device that creates negative pressure, actively drawing fluid out. Examples include:

Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain: A closed-suction drain with a bulb that can be compressed to create suction.
Hemovac drain: A larger, round drain that uses a spring-loaded mechanism to create suction.

Indications for Use[edit]

Surgical drains are used in a variety of situations, including:

To prevent the accumulation of fluids such as blood, pus, or serous fluid after surgery.
To reduce the risk of infection by removing potential breeding grounds for bacteria.
To monitor the amount and type of fluid being drained, which can provide information about the healing process.
To prevent the formation of a hematoma or seroma.

Placement and Management[edit]

The placement of a surgical drain is typically done during the surgical procedure. The surgeon will decide the most appropriate location for the drain based on the type of surgery and the expected fluid accumulation.

Care and Maintenance[edit]

Proper care and maintenance of surgical drains are crucial to prevent infection and ensure effective drainage. This includes:

Regularly emptying and measuring the fluid output.
Keeping the drain site clean and dry.
Monitoring for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or increased pain.
Ensuring the drain is not kinked or blocked.

Removal of Drains[edit]

The decision to remove a surgical drain is based on the amount and type of fluid being drained, as well as the patient's overall condition. Drains are typically removed when the fluid output decreases to an acceptable level, indicating that the body is healing properly.

Complications[edit]

While surgical drains are generally safe, they can be associated with certain complications, including:

Infection at the drain site.
Accidental dislodgement of the drain.
Blockage of the drain, preventing proper fluid removal.
Skin irritation or breakdown around the drain site.

Related Pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Drain (surgery) ==
+{{Short description|A device used to remove fluid from a wound or body cavity}}
-[[File:Hand with drain after surgery (2).jpg|thumb|Surgical drain on the left hand after surgery of [[Bennett's fracture]] basis MTC primi manus 1. sin (S62.20) which was treated by alignment of a fracture and inside fixation by two titanium screws MS.]]
+==Drain (surgery)==
-[[File:Drainage.JPG|thumb|Drainage with bottle after implant removal]]
+A '''surgical drain''' is a tube used to remove pus, blood, or other fluids from a wound. They are commonly used in various surgical procedures to prevent the accumulation of fluids, which can lead to infection or other complications. Drains are typically placed during surgery and can be left in place for several days, depending on the type of surgery and the amount of fluid being drained.
-[[File:Photograph showing a subcutaneous neck drain in the left neck wound.png|thumb|Photograph showing a subcutaneous neck drain in the left neck wound]]
-A '''surgical drain''' is a tube used to remove [[pus]], [[blood]] or other fluids from a [[wound]].<ref>{{cite book|first1 = Sudhir Kumar|last1 = Jain|first2 = David L.|last2 = Stoker|first3 = Raman|last3 = Tanwar|title = Basic Surgical Skills and Techniques|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2ot8MARoMIAC&pg=PA70#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher = JP Medical Ltd|journal = |date = 2013-04-30|location = |issn = |isbn = 9789350903759|pages = 70–73|volume = |series = |issue = |doi = |accessdate = 2014-09-07}}</ref> They are commonly placed by [[surgeon]]s or [[interventional radiologist]]s.
-<youtube>
+==Types of Surgical Drains==
-title='''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+Surgical drains can be classified into several types based on their mechanism of action and the type of fluid they are designed to remove.
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-&rel=1
-wrap = yes
-width=750
-height=600
-</youtube>
-== Use ==
+===Passive Drains===
-The routine use of drains for surgical procedures is diminishing as better radiological investigation and confidence in surgical technique have reduced their necessity.  It is felt now that drains may hinder recovery by acting as an 'anchor' limiting mobility post surgery and the drain itself may allow infection into the wound. In certain situations their use is unavoidable.
+Passive drains rely on gravity and capillary action to remove fluid from a wound. They do not have any suction and are often used when the fluid is expected to drain naturally. Examples include:
-Drains may be hooked to wall suction, a portable suction device, or they may be left to drain naturally.  Accurate recording of the volume of drainage as well as the contents is vital to ensure proper healing and monitor for excessive bleeding.  Depending on the amount of drainage, a patient may have the drain in place one day to weeks.  Drains will have protective dressings that will need to be changed daily/as needed.
+* '''Penrose drain''': A soft, flexible tube made of latex that allows fluid to exit the wound by capillary action.
+* '''Cigarette drain''': A Penrose drain with a gauze strip inside to increase the surface area for drainage.
-== Complications ==
+===Active Drains===
-Drains have a tendency to become occluded or clogged, resulting in retained fluid that can contribute to infection or other complications.  Thus efforts must be made to maintain and assess patency when they are in use.  Once a drain becomes clogged or occluded, it is usually removed, as it is no longer providing any benefit.
+Active drains use suction to remove fluid from a wound. They are connected to a vacuum device that creates negative pressure, actively drawing fluid out. Examples include:
-== Types of drains ==
+* '''Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain''': A closed-suction drain with a bulb that can be compressed to create suction.
-Surgical drains can be broadly classified into:
+* '''Hemovac drain''': A larger, round drain that uses a spring-loaded mechanism to create suction.
-* [[Jackson-Pratt drain]] - consists of a perforated round or flat tube connected to a negative pressure collection device.  The collection device is typically a bulb with a drainage port which can be opened to remove fluid or air.  After compressing the bulb to remove fluid or air, negative pressure is created as the bulb returns to its normal shape.
-* Blake drain - a round silicone tube with channels that carry fluid to a negative pressure collection device.  Drainage is thought to be achieved by capillary action, allowing fluid to travel through the open grooves into a closed cross section, which contains the fluid and allows it to be suctioned through the tube.<ref name = Obney>{{cite journal|last=Obney|first=James|author2=Mary Barnes|title=A method for mediastinal drainage after cardiac procedures using small silastic drains|journal=The Annals of Thoracic Surgery|year=2000|volume=70|issue=3|pages=1109–110|doi=10.1016/s0003-4975(00)01800-2|display-authors=etal|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1259523}}</ref>
-* [[Penrose drain]] - a soft rubber tube
-* [[Negative pressure wound therapy]] - Involves the use of enclosed foam and a suction device attached; this is one of the newer types of wound healing/drain devices which promotes faster tissue [[granulation tissue|granulation]], often used for large surgical/trauma/non-healing wounds.
-* Redivac drain - a high negative pressure drain. Suction is applied through the drain to generate a vacuum and draw fluids into a bottle.
-* Pigtail drain - has an exterior screw to release the internal "pigtail" before it can be removed
-* Davol
-* [[Chest tube]] - is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the chest wall and into the [[pleural cavity|pleural space]] or [[mediastinum]]
-* Wound manager
-==See also==
+==Indications for Use==
-*[[Wound healing]]
+Surgical drains are used in a variety of situations, including:
-*[[Incision and drainage]]
-*[[Instruments used in general surgery]]
-== References ==
+* To prevent the accumulation of fluids such as blood, pus, or serous fluid after surgery.
-{{Reflist}}
+* To reduce the risk of infection by removing potential breeding grounds for bacteria.
+* To monitor the amount and type of fluid being drained, which can provide information about the healing process.
+* To prevent the formation of a hematoma or seroma.
-== External links ==
+==Placement and Management==
-* {{Commons category-inline|Surgical drains}}
+The placement of a surgical drain is typically done during the surgical procedure. The surgeon will decide the most appropriate location for the drain based on the type of surgery and the expected fluid accumulation.
-{{-}}
+===Care and Maintenance===
-{{Surgical instruments}}
+Proper care and maintenance of surgical drains are crucial to prevent infection and ensure effective drainage. This includes:
-[[Category:Surgical instruments]]
-[[Category:Interventional radiology]]
+* Regularly emptying and measuring the fluid output.
-{{stub}}
+* Keeping the drain site clean and dry.
+* Monitoring for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or increased pain.
+* Ensuring the drain is not kinked or blocked.
+==Removal of Drains==
+The decision to remove a surgical drain is based on the amount and type of fluid being drained, as well as the patient's overall condition. Drains are typically removed when the fluid output decreases to an acceptable level, indicating that the body is healing properly.
+==Complications==
+While surgical drains are generally safe, they can be associated with certain complications, including:
+* Infection at the drain site.
+* Accidental dislodgement of the drain.
+* Blockage of the drain, preventing proper fluid removal.
+* Skin irritation or breakdown around the drain site.
+==Related Pages==
+* [[Surgery]]
+* [[Wound healing]]
+* [[Infection]]
+* [[Hematoma]]
+* [[Seroma]]
+[[Category:Surgical procedures]]
+[[Category:Medical devices]]