Surgical Drain Home Care
Surgical drains are used to remove extra fluid that normally builds up in a surgical wound after you have surgery. The purpose of a surgical drain is to help the wound heal. There are different types of surgical drains, including:
• Active drains. These drains use suction to pull drainage away from the wound. Drainage flows through a tube to a container outside of the body. The two most common types of active drains are bulb drains and Hemovac drains.
• Passive drains. These drains allow fluid to drain naturally, by gravity. Drainage flows through a tube to a bandage (dressing) or a container outside of the body. The most common type of passive drain is the Penrose drain.
A drain is placed during surgery. Immediately …show more content…
• Keep the bulb or the drainage container flat (compressed) at all times, except while you empty it. The compression creates suction. To compress the bulb or the container, squeeze it firmly in the middle while you close the cap or plug the container.
• Check your drain site every day for signs of infection. Check for:
• More redness, swelling, or pain.
• Pus or a bad smell.
• Cloudy drainage.
• Tape the tube to your skin 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) below the place where the tube enters your body. This keeps the tape from pulling on any stitches (sutures) that you have.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your drain and change your dressing. Change your dressing every day, or more often as needed to keep the dressing dry. Make sure you: • Gather your supplies, including tape, germ-free (sterile) cleaning solution (saline), a 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) split gauze drain sponge, and a 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) gauze square.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Remove the old dressing. Avoid using scissors.
• Clean your skin around the drain with sterile
Surgical drains are used to remove extra fluid that normally builds up in a surgical wound after you have surgery. The purpose of a surgical drain is to help the wound heal. There are different types of surgical drains, including:
• Active drains. These drains use suction to pull drainage away from the wound. Drainage flows through a tube to a container outside of the body. The two most common types of active drains are bulb drains and Hemovac drains.
• Passive drains. These drains allow fluid to drain naturally, by gravity. Drainage flows through a tube to a bandage (dressing) or a container outside of the body. The most common type of passive drain is the Penrose drain.
A drain is placed during surgery. Immediately …show more content…
• Keep the bulb or the drainage container flat (compressed) at all times, except while you empty it. The compression creates suction. To compress the bulb or the container, squeeze it firmly in the middle while you close the cap or plug the container.
• Check your drain site every day for signs of infection. Check for:
• More redness, swelling, or pain.
• Pus or a bad smell.
• Cloudy drainage.
• Tape the tube to your skin 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) below the place where the tube enters your body. This keeps the tape from pulling on any stitches (sutures) that you have.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your drain and change your dressing. Change your dressing every day, or more often as needed to keep the dressing dry. Make sure you: • Gather your supplies, including tape, germ-free (sterile) cleaning solution (saline), a 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) split gauze drain sponge, and a 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) gauze square.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Remove the old dressing. Avoid using scissors.
• Clean your skin around the drain with sterile