How The Correct Surgical Drain Management Must Be Observed

By Lucia Weeks


Operations are performed by surgeons on some people so that their lives can be saved. Foreign objects might have to be removed from their bodies, such as bullets or tumors. Organ transplants might be needed by these people for those that do not properly work to be replaced.

After these operations, the surgeons will most likely place apparatuses on the incisions to prevent fluid and blood buildup for their fast recoveries. The doctors will only remove these apparatuses, known as surgical drains, when the liquids are only 30 ml or less in one day. As for the patients, they have to observe proper surgical drain management to prevent further complications.

Before these routines are performed, their hands should be washed thoroughly. Afterwards, these things should be unpinned from their clothing and placed on clean towels. These should not be put just anywhere, especially where there could be bacterias. The drains could be reached by the bacterias that will result to infections.

The individuals should hold the tubes that come out of their incision sites with one hand. They should use their free hand to gently squeeze all the liquid that will flow through these tubes. They have to squeeze from the top to the bottom. They need to make sure that they will push all the fluids to the drainage bulbs. It is normal if the tubes will stretch at these cases.

If volume indicators are present in the bulbs, these should be held at eye level so that they could be clearly measured. If there are no volume indicators, measuring cups can be utilized, instead. These things should be opened and the liquids poured down to these cups. They need to ensure that even small amounts will not be left behinds. The fluids are usually pinkish or yellowish.

The person should be taking note of the volume of this liquid and recording it on his log book. He should also be indicating the time beside it. The doctor will be using this record in determining if he could already be removing the drain or not yet. Afterwards, the patient should be pouring the contents down the toilet and flushing it.

The measuring cups should be washed after being utilized. Peroxide can be applied on these things for bacterias to be avoided. These things should be stored in similar places together, such as the clean towels, pens, and log books, so that their routines can be performed continuously. However, these should be kept away from the children.

After they finish their routines, the patients should pin these drains back to their clothes. They also need to wash their hands thoroughly again. If they want to, they can apply peroxide on the skins around the incision sites to make sure that possible bacteria will not enter from there.

If their skins around their incisions where these tubes stick out are noticed to be red or swollen, doctors should be immediately consulted. The same thing should be done if fluids smell bad and have bright red colors or pus or if the volumes increased or stopped. The appropriate actions will be taken by the doctors for these situations to be remedied.




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