Drains
Surgical drains may be placed at the end of a procedure to allow for the continued removal of air or fluids, which could be blood, serum, lymphatic fluid, or other secretions. A drain is not usually placed in the surgical site but through a ‘stab wound’ or small incision that the surgeon makes near the surgical incision site.
Drains are classified as either simple or closed systems. Closed systems allow for a gentle negative pressure to pull out fluid, while a simple drain allows free-flow drainage with gravity.
(Bak, 2019)
Selecting a Drain
When choosing an appropriate drain, the perioperative team must consider:
- What is the purpose of the drain?
- Does the wound require active or passive drainage?
- How much drainage is anticipated?
- The surgical site.
- Which drainage systems are available at the hospital?
- The surgeon’s preference.
(ORNAC, 2021)
📁 Documentation Highlight
The circulating nurse must ensure that the following information is documented related to the drain:
- The type of drain used.
- Location of the drain.
- The method of securing (i.e., sutured in place, taped in place).
This information must be provided in the report to the post-operative care nurse during handover.
(ORNAC, 2021)
🧠 Graded Activity
In Blackboard complete Graded Activity: Surgical Procedure Classification
📽️ AORN CINE-MED VIDEO
Navigate to the AORN Cine-Med website and make sure that you are logged in before clicking on the link below.
- Watch the AORN Cine-Med Video on Wound Healing
- Download the Study Guide included to follow along.
- (Thread to follow in Cine-Med – Perioperative patient care concepts – wound care and healing in perioperative practice)
- Runtime – 39 minutes