Basically, after a surgery, there is a chance that fluid might collect in the operative area inside the body. This would create a higher chance for infections and other problems. It is for this reason that surgeons put surgical drains to ensure that the fluid flows out. In order to prevent infections, surgical drain management is essential.
Surgical drains are simply thin rubber tubes inserted to the location of the wound in order to take away fluids including pus and blood from such a wound. However, such insertions prevent not infections and lead not to faster healing of the wound. Rather, they remove fluids that may otherwise cause infections or even lead to complications from retained blood. The physician gives specific instructions on the duration the drain is to stay, but the removal generally occurs when there is a significantly small amount of fluid collected or none at all.
There are various kinds of surgical drains operating in different ways. These include active and passive drains. Passive surgical drains are dependent on gravity to release fluids from the wound and active surgical drains are attached on some vacuum device or some wall suction. A surgeon usually will select the appropriate type fitting the operated site and able to handle the expected drainage.
The downside of drains is that they may provide a pathway for bacteria to reach the wound causing infections. Usually, the risk of an infection is higher in the third and fourth day. At this point, the risk of mechanical damage to the local tissues is also higher. To minimize such risks surgeons inserts the drains to reach the skin in the safest and shortest route. This is to ensure that the drains do not exert so much pressure to the adjacent tissues.
The systematic approach of care and managing of drains significantly reduces cases of complications and the level of drainage. Following the insertion of the drains, thick dark red blood emanating from blood left over from the operation accompanies the drainage. The fluid drops with the healing of the wound as the drainage becomes thinner and changes color to pink because less blood is produced. When blood completely disappears, the drainage transforms to pale yellow and thin and ultimately trickles slowly.
Managing of a drain will depend on the type, purpose as well as the location of the given drains. However, the general reason for having a drain is to take away air or fluid in the area operated on. Hence, it is of essence to adhere to guidelines provided by the surgeon.
To prevent clogs, squeezing the tube may help so that it drains properly. The doctor may give guidelines on when squeezing would be appropriate, for instance, when you notice a clog is preventing fluid drainage. Also, if you notice that there is fluid leakage around the tube going to the skin, squeezing would be a good care management.
Removal of surgical drains generally is performed when no more fluid flows or when the flow falls below 25 ml/day. Nevertheless, the period may be shortened through gradual withdrawal of the drains at about 2 cm each day so as to give way to the gradual healing of the area.
Surgical drains are simply thin rubber tubes inserted to the location of the wound in order to take away fluids including pus and blood from such a wound. However, such insertions prevent not infections and lead not to faster healing of the wound. Rather, they remove fluids that may otherwise cause infections or even lead to complications from retained blood. The physician gives specific instructions on the duration the drain is to stay, but the removal generally occurs when there is a significantly small amount of fluid collected or none at all.
There are various kinds of surgical drains operating in different ways. These include active and passive drains. Passive surgical drains are dependent on gravity to release fluids from the wound and active surgical drains are attached on some vacuum device or some wall suction. A surgeon usually will select the appropriate type fitting the operated site and able to handle the expected drainage.
The downside of drains is that they may provide a pathway for bacteria to reach the wound causing infections. Usually, the risk of an infection is higher in the third and fourth day. At this point, the risk of mechanical damage to the local tissues is also higher. To minimize such risks surgeons inserts the drains to reach the skin in the safest and shortest route. This is to ensure that the drains do not exert so much pressure to the adjacent tissues.
The systematic approach of care and managing of drains significantly reduces cases of complications and the level of drainage. Following the insertion of the drains, thick dark red blood emanating from blood left over from the operation accompanies the drainage. The fluid drops with the healing of the wound as the drainage becomes thinner and changes color to pink because less blood is produced. When blood completely disappears, the drainage transforms to pale yellow and thin and ultimately trickles slowly.
Managing of a drain will depend on the type, purpose as well as the location of the given drains. However, the general reason for having a drain is to take away air or fluid in the area operated on. Hence, it is of essence to adhere to guidelines provided by the surgeon.
To prevent clogs, squeezing the tube may help so that it drains properly. The doctor may give guidelines on when squeezing would be appropriate, for instance, when you notice a clog is preventing fluid drainage. Also, if you notice that there is fluid leakage around the tube going to the skin, squeezing would be a good care management.
Removal of surgical drains generally is performed when no more fluid flows or when the flow falls below 25 ml/day. Nevertheless, the period may be shortened through gradual withdrawal of the drains at about 2 cm each day so as to give way to the gradual healing of the area.
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