If you have recently had surgery you have a lot of things on your mind. You may still be recovering from the procedure itself and trying to deal with pain and loss of mobility. If you have a drain, you may also be trying to care for this device as well. Surgical drain care is not difficult and there are really only a few steps to accomplishing it.
You may have had surgery in the past and not had a drain installed. Not every surgery results in the use of one of these devices. There are procedures, however, that have a better recovery rate if a drain is installed. If you have surgery where a cavity will remain (as in an area where a lump or other piece of tissue was removed), you can end up having fluid or air build up. This makes it impossible for the body to heal properly. Drains allow your body to get rid of these substances and heal properly.
Infection can be a serious problem especially when a surgical wound becomes infected. Some individuals have even died as a result of bacterial infections in their surgical wounds. You want to make sure you are going to heal as quickly as possible and it will be easier to do so if you maintain your drain properly and practice good wound care.
Your doctor may have specific instructions that they want you to follow. This may include specific colors of fluids to look for. They may also send home written instructions with you after your surgery or give instructions to your caregiver so that they can look after you properly. If there are specific instructions relating to your surgery it is important that you follow them to ensure you heal properly.
You will see that your incision will have a tube sticking out of it. This leads to a bulb where fluid collects. This does two things. It helps keep the discharge from getting all over your clothing and bedding. It also helps keep bacteria out of the wound because it is a closed system. You do have to worry about closing up the bulb properly and making sure it is not kinked or bent.
Cleaning your equipment is very important. If there is any bacteria it can transfer to your drain and end up traveling into the wound. This can leave you with a very serious infection on your end. Even clean the cup that you use to measure how much discharge is coming out of the wound. Don't be surprise though if, after a while, the amount of liquid decreases since this is a sign you are healing.
You need to remember that more fluid will drain out at the beginning of your recovery than it will when it has been healing for a bit. At a minimum, checking it four times a day (about every six hours) will make sure that you get rid of the fluid before the bulb becomes too full. You should get instructions on how to empty the bulb. You just need to ensure that you clean everything before shutting up your device again.
Keep an eye on the incision as well. Make sure that it is not looking red and inflamed or that there is no discharge coming from the wound instead of the drain. Also make sure that the tube is not kinked or bent. If there are any problems, make sure you call your doctor and be prepared to have them check the area for infections.
You may have had surgery in the past and not had a drain installed. Not every surgery results in the use of one of these devices. There are procedures, however, that have a better recovery rate if a drain is installed. If you have surgery where a cavity will remain (as in an area where a lump or other piece of tissue was removed), you can end up having fluid or air build up. This makes it impossible for the body to heal properly. Drains allow your body to get rid of these substances and heal properly.
Infection can be a serious problem especially when a surgical wound becomes infected. Some individuals have even died as a result of bacterial infections in their surgical wounds. You want to make sure you are going to heal as quickly as possible and it will be easier to do so if you maintain your drain properly and practice good wound care.
Your doctor may have specific instructions that they want you to follow. This may include specific colors of fluids to look for. They may also send home written instructions with you after your surgery or give instructions to your caregiver so that they can look after you properly. If there are specific instructions relating to your surgery it is important that you follow them to ensure you heal properly.
You will see that your incision will have a tube sticking out of it. This leads to a bulb where fluid collects. This does two things. It helps keep the discharge from getting all over your clothing and bedding. It also helps keep bacteria out of the wound because it is a closed system. You do have to worry about closing up the bulb properly and making sure it is not kinked or bent.
Cleaning your equipment is very important. If there is any bacteria it can transfer to your drain and end up traveling into the wound. This can leave you with a very serious infection on your end. Even clean the cup that you use to measure how much discharge is coming out of the wound. Don't be surprise though if, after a while, the amount of liquid decreases since this is a sign you are healing.
You need to remember that more fluid will drain out at the beginning of your recovery than it will when it has been healing for a bit. At a minimum, checking it four times a day (about every six hours) will make sure that you get rid of the fluid before the bulb becomes too full. You should get instructions on how to empty the bulb. You just need to ensure that you clean everything before shutting up your device again.
Keep an eye on the incision as well. Make sure that it is not looking red and inflamed or that there is no discharge coming from the wound instead of the drain. Also make sure that the tube is not kinked or bent. If there are any problems, make sure you call your doctor and be prepared to have them check the area for infections.
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