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Generally, instances of fluid collecting near areas in the body that have undergone surgeries can happen. This leads to higher chances of being infected or development of other problems. Owing to this reason, surgeons use surgical drains to drains away the fluid. Preventing such infections calls for surgical drain management, this is very important.
Surgical drains are simply thin rubber tubes inserted to the location of the wound in order to take away fluids including pus and blood from such a wound. However, such insertions prevent not infections and lead not to faster healing of the wound. Rather, they remove fluids that may otherwise cause infections or even lead to complications from retained blood. The physician gives specific instructions on the duration the drain is to stay, but the removal generally occurs when there is a significantly small amount of fluid collected or none at all.
There are various kinds of surgical drains operating in different ways. These include active and passive drains. Passive surgical drains are dependent on gravity to release fluids from the wound and active surgical drains are attached on some vacuum device or some wall suction. A surgeon usually will select the appropriate type fitting the operated site and able to handle the expected drainage.
Drains have a potential problem of providing a pathway to bacteria that access the wound and result in infections. Normally, the risks of infections are higher between the third and fourth days. At this time, there are also higher risks of mechanical damage on the surrounding tissues. In order to minimize these risks, surgeons insert drains reaching the skin through the shortest and safest route. This ensures that no much pressure is exerted on adjacent tissues by the drains.
A systematic approach on care and management of drains can significantly reduce complications and the amount of drainage. After the insertion of drains, the drainage is accompanied by blood which is usually dark red and thick coming from the leftover blood after the operation. The fluid decreases as the wound heals and the color of the discharge changes to pink and becomes thinner since there is less blood. When the blood is completely gone, the drainage becomes thin, pale yellow, and eventually slows to trickle.
Managing of a drain will depend on the type, purpose as well as the location of the given drains. However, the general reason for having a drain is to take away air or fluid in the area operated on. Hence, it is of essence to adhere to guidelines provided by the surgeon.
In order to avoid clogs, the tubes are squeezed to permit proper drainage. A doctor provides guidelines on the suitable time to squeeze for instance, whenever you observe a clog that prevents draining of the fluid. Additionally, if you observe some fluid leakage next to a tube directed to the skin then squeezing becomes the best care management.
Removal of surgical drains generally is performed when no more fluid flows or when the flow falls below 25 ml/day. Nevertheless, the period may be shortened through gradual withdrawal of the drains at about 2 cm each day so as to give way to the gradual healing of the area.
Surgical drains are simply thin rubber tubes inserted to the location of the wound in order to take away fluids including pus and blood from such a wound. However, such insertions prevent not infections and lead not to faster healing of the wound. Rather, they remove fluids that may otherwise cause infections or even lead to complications from retained blood. The physician gives specific instructions on the duration the drain is to stay, but the removal generally occurs when there is a significantly small amount of fluid collected or none at all.
There are various kinds of surgical drains operating in different ways. These include active and passive drains. Passive surgical drains are dependent on gravity to release fluids from the wound and active surgical drains are attached on some vacuum device or some wall suction. A surgeon usually will select the appropriate type fitting the operated site and able to handle the expected drainage.
Drains have a potential problem of providing a pathway to bacteria that access the wound and result in infections. Normally, the risks of infections are higher between the third and fourth days. At this time, there are also higher risks of mechanical damage on the surrounding tissues. In order to minimize these risks, surgeons insert drains reaching the skin through the shortest and safest route. This ensures that no much pressure is exerted on adjacent tissues by the drains.
A systematic approach on care and management of drains can significantly reduce complications and the amount of drainage. After the insertion of drains, the drainage is accompanied by blood which is usually dark red and thick coming from the leftover blood after the operation. The fluid decreases as the wound heals and the color of the discharge changes to pink and becomes thinner since there is less blood. When the blood is completely gone, the drainage becomes thin, pale yellow, and eventually slows to trickle.
Managing of a drain will depend on the type, purpose as well as the location of the given drains. However, the general reason for having a drain is to take away air or fluid in the area operated on. Hence, it is of essence to adhere to guidelines provided by the surgeon.
In order to avoid clogs, the tubes are squeezed to permit proper drainage. A doctor provides guidelines on the suitable time to squeeze for instance, whenever you observe a clog that prevents draining of the fluid. Additionally, if you observe some fluid leakage next to a tube directed to the skin then squeezing becomes the best care management.
Removal of surgical drains generally is performed when no more fluid flows or when the flow falls below 25 ml/day. Nevertheless, the period may be shortened through gradual withdrawal of the drains at about 2 cm each day so as to give way to the gradual healing of the area.
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Learn about surgical drain management and how to record your progress on an excel spreadsheet. To know more, visit this website at http://www.medicaldrain.com.
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