Drainage is a small thin tube that can be inserted into the skin after some surgeries, to help remove excess fluid, such as blood and pus, which can eventually accumulate in the operated area.Surgeries where drainage placement is more common include abdominal surgeries, such as bariatric surgery, in the lung or breast, for example.
In most cases, drainage is inserted under the surgery scar and fixed with points or staples, and can be maintained for approximately 1 to 4 weeks.
- The drain can be placed in different areas of the body and therefore there are different types of drains.
- Which can be rubber.
- Plastic or silicone.
- Although there are several types of drainage.
- The precautions are generally similar.
For drainage to work properly, you can’t break the tube or make sudden movements, as they can eventually pull the drain and cause skin lesions, so one of the best ways to take care of the drain is to stay calm and rest.as directed by your doctor.
In addition, if it is necessary to bring the drainage home, it is very important to record the color and amount of fluid extracted to inform the nurse or doctor, so that these professionals can evaluate the healing.
The dressing, drainage or reservoir should not be changed at home, but should be replaced by a nurse in the hospital or health center.So, if the bandage gets wet or the drip tray is full, you should go to the health center or call your doctor or nurse to find out what to do.
In addition to knowing how to maintain drainage, there are also other common questions:
If drainage works properly, the amount of fluid that comes out should decrease with the days and skin next to the dressing should remain clean and without redness or swelling.In addition, drainage should not cause pain, just a small discomfort in the skin.area that is inserted into the skin.
Drainage is usually removed when the secretion stops coming out and if the scar shows no signs of infection such as redness and swelling.Therefore, the length of stay with drainage varies depending on the type of surgery and can vary from a few days to a few weeks.
Na maioria dos casos é possível tomar banho com o dreno, porém não se deve molhar o curativo da ferida, porque aumenta o risco de infecção.
So, if the drainage is in your chest or abdomen, for example, you can bathe from the waist down and then use a sponge on top to cleanse the skin.
If you feel pain at the drainage site, do not place ice because the presence of drainage does not cause you pain, only discomfort.
Then, if you feel pain, you need to tell your doctor quickly because drainage can deviate from the right place or develop an infection, and ice won’t treat the problem, it will only reduce swelling and relieve pain for a while.a few minutes, and when the dressing is anchored, the risk of infection is higher.
Your doctor may recommend taking an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin or azithromycin, to prevent the development of an infection and, in most cases, should be taken twice a day.
Also, to reduce discomfort, you can also prescribe a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, every 8 hours.
The main risks of drainage are infections, bleeding or organ perforation, but these complications are very rare.
Removing drainage usually does not hurt and therefore anesthesia is not necessary, but in some cases, as in the chest tube, local anesthesia may be applied to reduce discomfort.
Removing drainage can cause discomfort for a few seconds, which is the time it takes to remove it.To relieve this feeling, it is recommended that you take a deep breath when the nurse or doctor removes the drain.
Normally it is not necessary to draw points, since the small hole where the drainage has been inserted into the skin closes on its own and it is sufficient to apply a small dressing until it closes completely.
In case the drain comes out on its own, it is recommended to cover the hole with a bandage and quickly go to the emergency room or hospital, never put the drain back on, as it may puncture an organ.
In some cases, a small scar may appear where drainage was inserted
It is necessary to return to the doctor whenever necessary to change the dressing or remove the points or staples, however, you should also see your doctor if there are:
These signs indicate that drainage is not working properly or that there may be an infection, so it is very important to identify the problem in order to do the right treatment, see other strategies to recover more quickly from surgery.