Drains are used in a variety of orthopedic, general surgery and cardiac procedures. Effective surgical drain management will prevent infections, promote faster healing and reduce pain after surgery. Patients who have undergone these procedures need to be managed well to prevent the situation from worsening.
The kind of attention given to the drains depends on its type. They are used to carry out lymph, serum and blood, among other fluid materials from a wound or surgery scene. Failure to remove these fluids leads to unnecessary pressure on the surrounding vessels, organs and nerves. This pressure will cause a malfunction. A decrease in perfusion on the area where surgery has been conducted is as a result of pressure. This will affect the rate of healing. Fluid buildup exposes you to bacterial attack.
The fluids can either be drained actively or passively. The use of natural gravity is what is considered as passive. Active drainage requires vacuuming or sanction equipment that are deployed when the need arises. The decision by the surgeon to use active or passive draining technique depends on whether the equipment and operating personnel are available. It must also be the most appropriate procedure at the moment.
There are complications expected when using drains. The most obvious is the pain involved when going in and out. This makes sitting on the wound and normal maneuvers very painful. It destroys neighboring tissues as it rubs against them. This is likely to complicate the situation further. The situation gets worse when it becomes a path for bacteria to get through to the wound.
Prolonged use of drains worsen the complications whereby by the third or fourth day the level of risk has escalated several folds. The contact between tubes and tissues along the way causes damage. To reduce the level of damage, the safest and shortest route should be used. This minimizes pressure on the tissues as well as the number of tissues coming into contact.
It is natural for the body to resist the drain by encasing it. This is because it is regarded as a foreign body. The reaction by the body reduces the effectiveness of the tubes. This is best handled through constant monitoring to ensure that the tube is still functioning optimally. The drains must be labeled clearly to make management consistent.
The drain must be monitored strictly. The quantity of drainage, color and consistency should be recorded. The initial drainage is sanguineous in appearance because of blood leftovers after surgery. This red and thick fluid should change within days as healing takes place. It is upon the managing staff to identify the type of drainage expected depending on the operation carried out and the location of the wound.
With time, the fluid becomes thinner and reduces in volume. The changes should be tracked, documented and reported so that appropriate action can be taken in case of a problem. Care should never be delegated to a trainee and sterile techniques must be used during handling. Removal should only be approved by a qualified surgeon and according to prescribed procedure. The amount of drainage is also recorded for monitoring and comparison so that further action can be taken.
The kind of attention given to the drains depends on its type. They are used to carry out lymph, serum and blood, among other fluid materials from a wound or surgery scene. Failure to remove these fluids leads to unnecessary pressure on the surrounding vessels, organs and nerves. This pressure will cause a malfunction. A decrease in perfusion on the area where surgery has been conducted is as a result of pressure. This will affect the rate of healing. Fluid buildup exposes you to bacterial attack.
The fluids can either be drained actively or passively. The use of natural gravity is what is considered as passive. Active drainage requires vacuuming or sanction equipment that are deployed when the need arises. The decision by the surgeon to use active or passive draining technique depends on whether the equipment and operating personnel are available. It must also be the most appropriate procedure at the moment.
There are complications expected when using drains. The most obvious is the pain involved when going in and out. This makes sitting on the wound and normal maneuvers very painful. It destroys neighboring tissues as it rubs against them. This is likely to complicate the situation further. The situation gets worse when it becomes a path for bacteria to get through to the wound.
Prolonged use of drains worsen the complications whereby by the third or fourth day the level of risk has escalated several folds. The contact between tubes and tissues along the way causes damage. To reduce the level of damage, the safest and shortest route should be used. This minimizes pressure on the tissues as well as the number of tissues coming into contact.
It is natural for the body to resist the drain by encasing it. This is because it is regarded as a foreign body. The reaction by the body reduces the effectiveness of the tubes. This is best handled through constant monitoring to ensure that the tube is still functioning optimally. The drains must be labeled clearly to make management consistent.
The drain must be monitored strictly. The quantity of drainage, color and consistency should be recorded. The initial drainage is sanguineous in appearance because of blood leftovers after surgery. This red and thick fluid should change within days as healing takes place. It is upon the managing staff to identify the type of drainage expected depending on the operation carried out and the location of the wound.
With time, the fluid becomes thinner and reduces in volume. The changes should be tracked, documented and reported so that appropriate action can be taken in case of a problem. Care should never be delegated to a trainee and sterile techniques must be used during handling. Removal should only be approved by a qualified surgeon and according to prescribed procedure. The amount of drainage is also recorded for monitoring and comparison so that further action can be taken.
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