A surgical drain is a tube used to remove pus, blood or other fluids from a wound. Drains inserted after surgery do not result in faster wound healing or prevent infection but are sometimes neccessary to drain body fluid which may accumulate and in itself become a focus of infection. The routine use drains for surgical procedures is diminishing. Better radiological investigation and confidence in surgical technique have reduced their neccesity. 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 thir use is unavoidable. Pus is a whitish-yellow or yellow substance produced during inflammatory responses of the body that can be found in regions of pyogenic bacterial infections. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... Superficial bullet wounds In medicine, a wound is a type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). ...
Drains may be hooked to wall suction, a portable suction device, or they may be left to drain by gravity. 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 1 day to weeks. Signs of new infection or copious amounts of drainage should be reported to the health care provider immediately. Drains will have protective dressings that will need to be changed daily/as needed.
Types of drains
Jackson Pratt - This consists of a tube connected to a see through collection bulb. The bulb has a drainage port which can be opened to remove fluid or air so that the bulb can be squeezed to create suction. The drain should always stay below the area of the wound.
Wound Vac System - 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, often used for large surgical/trauma/non-healing wounds.
Redivac drain
Pigtail drain - has an exterior screw to release the internal "pigtail" before it can be removed
A penrose drain is a surgical device placed in a wound to drain fluid. ... Granulation tissue is the tissue that replaces a fibrin clot in healing tissue. ... A chest tube or chest drain is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the side of the chest into the pleural space. ...
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