Patient Information

Patient Experience: Surgery

Temporary Drain Care

Please read before discharge

As a surgical patient, you may have a drain that was placed under the skin at the time of surgery to collect blood and fluid. When you go home, you will need to keep track of the output from your drains until your doctor determines that they can be removed. This is usually when the output is 30cc (2 Tbsp.) in 24 hours. Generally, this takes 3-14 days from the day of your surgery.

Instructions

The skin around the drain should be cleaned once a day. This can be done with warm water or when in the shower.

The tubing should be milked or stripped three times a day to minimize clots. A nurse will demonstrate how this should be done. It is recommended that you empty them:

• First thing in the morning when you wake up
• Just before going to sleep at night
• Anytime during the day that the drain gets heavy, full or is fully expanded

You nurse will give you a measuring cup to bring home with you. Follow these steps:

• Wash your hands
• Open the top of the drain
• Empty the fluid from the drain into the measuring cup
• Next, squeeze the drain, hold in a squeezed position while putting the cap back on. This will create suction to help with drainage
• Pin to your clothes or dressing to prevent pulling (e.g. Bra, shirt, underwear)
• Record the amount of drainage on your sheet and discard drainage
• Wash your hands.

Discuss how to report the output with your doctor

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Temperature greater then 100.5, redness, pain, or fullness
• There is a large amount of drainage on the dressing and there is no drainage into the drain
• The drain does not maintain suction