Surgical recovery can be complicated and there may be a lot of steps that you need to remember. You may have specific medication that you need to take or steps that need to be performed in order to help you get healthy as quickly as possible. Surgical drain care is not terribly complicated but it does involve a few steps.
Not every surgery will result in you having a drain. Simple incisions usually just get sutured up. If there is a void or gap in the body's tissues, however, a surgeon will likely want to use a drain. This is so that blood and other liquids are not trapped under the skin and so that a patient can heal as quickly as possible.
One of the main problems with any incision healing is the fact that it could become infected. Suturing an incision closed will help prevent this, but what do you do if you have an open wound with a drain inserted into it? The key is to handle the area properly so that you do not end up with bigger problems later on.
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.
A drain is made up several parts. The first is a thin tube, usually made of soft, flexible plastic which is inserted into your wound. This is the tube that the liquid or air will use to move out of your body while it heals. The other part of the device is a bulb. This is a small reservoir where the liquid can collect. There is quite often a valve or other way that you can open the bulb in order to get rid of any accumulated fluid.
Before you do anything, you want to make sure that your hands are clean. This will keep you from accidentally introducing bacteria into your drain or your incision. Also, if there are any tools that you have been given they should also be cleaned thoroughly. You may get a cup to measure your discharge and again, this needs to be washed properly.
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.
While you may be focused on the device itself it is important to make sure that you also check the incision as well. Make sure it's not red and that there is no liquid coming from it. This may mean it is infected and you should talk to your doctor. Also check and see if there are any kinks or crimps in the tube or bulb. This may also mean a call to your doctor in order to have your device checked.
Not every surgery will result in you having a drain. Simple incisions usually just get sutured up. If there is a void or gap in the body's tissues, however, a surgeon will likely want to use a drain. This is so that blood and other liquids are not trapped under the skin and so that a patient can heal as quickly as possible.
One of the main problems with any incision healing is the fact that it could become infected. Suturing an incision closed will help prevent this, but what do you do if you have an open wound with a drain inserted into it? The key is to handle the area properly so that you do not end up with bigger problems later on.
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.
A drain is made up several parts. The first is a thin tube, usually made of soft, flexible plastic which is inserted into your wound. This is the tube that the liquid or air will use to move out of your body while it heals. The other part of the device is a bulb. This is a small reservoir where the liquid can collect. There is quite often a valve or other way that you can open the bulb in order to get rid of any accumulated fluid.
Before you do anything, you want to make sure that your hands are clean. This will keep you from accidentally introducing bacteria into your drain or your incision. Also, if there are any tools that you have been given they should also be cleaned thoroughly. You may get a cup to measure your discharge and again, this needs to be washed properly.
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.
While you may be focused on the device itself it is important to make sure that you also check the incision as well. Make sure it's not red and that there is no liquid coming from it. This may mean it is infected and you should talk to your doctor. Also check and see if there are any kinks or crimps in the tube or bulb. This may also mean a call to your doctor in order to have your device checked.
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