- 1. How should I take care of the drain?
- 2. How do I know if the drain is working?
- 3. How many days do I have to stay with the drain?
- 4. Can I bathe with the drain?
- 5. Do I need to change the dressing or drain at home?
- 6. Does ice relieve pain in the drain?
- 7. Do I need to take any medication because of the drain?
- 8. What complications can arise?
- 9. Does taking out the drain hurt?
- 10. Do I need to take stitches after removing the drain?
- 11. What can I do if the drain comes out on its own?
- 12. Can the drain leave a scar?
- When is it recommended to go to the doctor?
The drain is a small thin tube that is inserted into the skin after surgery to help remove excess fluids, such as blood and pus, which can accumulate in the operated area. In most cases, the drain is inserted below the scar of the surgery and is fixed with stitches or staples, and can be maintained for about 1 to 4 weeks.
In this way, the drain can be placed in various regions of the body and, therefore, there are different types of drains, such as the Penrose, Blake, Portovac, Redivac or Jackson-Pratt drain for example, which can be rubber, plastic or silicone. Although there are several types of drain, the precautions are usually similar.
Although it is frequent in many surgeries, the drain is not placed in all types of surgery, being used only when there is a high chance of fluids coming out as in abdominal surgeries, such as bariatric surgery, in the lung or breast, for example.
1. How should I take care of the drain?
To keep the drain working properly, you cannot break the tube or make sudden movements because you can pull the drain out and cause an injury to the skin, so it is important to remain calm and rest, as directed by the doctor.
In addition, you should record the color and amount of fluid eliminated and tell the doctor to evaluate the healing.
2. How do I know if the drain is working?
If the drain is working properly, the amount of fluid that comes out should decrease over the days and the skin next to the dressing should remain clean and without redness or swelling. In addition, the drain should not cause pain, just a little discomfort in the place that is inserted into the skin.
3. How many days do I have to stay with the drain?
Usually the drain is removed when secretion stops coming out and if the scar does not show signs of infection such as redness and swelling. Thus, the length of stay with the drain varies with the type of surgery, and may vary between days or weeks.
4. Can I bathe with the drain?
In most cases it is possible to bathe with the drain, but the wound dressing should not be wet, as it increases the risk of infection.
So, if the drain is in the chest or abdomen, for example, you can bathe from the waist down and then use a sponge on the top to clean the skin.
5. Do I need to change the dressing or drain at home?
The dressing and drain must not be changed at home, but must be replaced at the hospital or health clinic by a nurse. So, if the dressing is wet or if the drain pan is full, you should call the doctor or nurse to find out what to do.
6. Does ice relieve pain in the drain?
If you feel pain at the drain site, ice should not be placed, as the presence of the drain does not cause pain, only discomfort.
So, if you feel pain, it is necessary to inform the doctor quickly because the drain may be deviated from the correct place or be developing an infection, and the ice will not treat the problem, it will only reduce the swelling and relieve the pain for a few minutes. and when wetting the dressing, the risk of infection is greater.
7. Do I need to take any medication because of the drain?
The doctor may recommend taking an antibiotic, such as Amoxicillin or Azithromycin, to prevent the development of an infection, and should be taken, in most cases, twice a day.
In addition, to reduce discomfort, you can also prescribe an analgesic, such as Paracetamol, every 8 hours.
8. What complications can arise?
The main risks of the drain are infections, bleeding or perforation of organs, but these complications are very rare.
9. Does taking out the drain hurt?
Usually, removing the drain does not hurt and, therefore, anesthesia is not necessary, however in some cases, such as in the chest drain, local anesthesia can be applied to reduce discomfort.
Removing the drain can cause discomfort for a few seconds, which is the time it takes to remove it. To alleviate this sensation, it is recommended to take a deep breath when the nurse or doctor is taking the drain.
10. Do I need to take stitches after removing the drain?
It is not normally necessary to take stitches, because the small hole where the drain was inserted into the skin closes on its own, and it is only necessary to apply a small dressing until it closes completely.
11. What can I do if the drain comes out on its own?
In case the drain leaves alone, it is recommended to cover the hole with a dressing and go quickly to the emergency room or hospital. You should never put the drain back on, as it may pierce an organ.
12. Can the drain leave a scar?
In some cases it is possible that a small scar will appear at the place where the drain was inserted.
When is it recommended to go to the doctor?
It is necessary to go back to the doctor whenever it is necessary to change the dressing or to remove the stitches or staples. However, you should also go to the doctor if you have:
- Redness, swelling or pus around the drain insert in the skin; Severe pain at the drain site; Strong and unpleasant smell in the dressing; Wet dressing; Increase in the amount of fluid drained over the days; Fever above 38º C.
These signs indicate that the drain is not working properly or that there may be an infection, it is very important to identify the problem in order to do the appropriate treatment. See other strategies to recover faster from surgery.
