Monday 15 December 2014

How The Correct Surgical Drain Management Must Be Observed

By Lucia Weeks


Operations are performed by surgeons on some people so that their lives can be saved. Foreign objects might have to be removed from their bodies, such as bullets or tumors. Organ transplants might be needed by these people for those that do not properly work to be replaced.

After an operation, a surgeon will most likely be placing an apparatus on the incision in preventing the build up of fluid and blood. The doctor will be removing the apparatus or surgical drain if the liquid is already less than 30 ml within 24 hours. For a patient, he should be observing the right surgical drain management in preventing further complications.

Prior to performing the routine, he should be washing his hand thoroughly with water and soap. Afterwards, he should be unpinning this thing from his shirt and placing it on a clean towel. He should not just be putting it anywhere, especially if it has bacteria. The bacteria could be reaching the drain and causing complications.

The tubes from their incision sites should be held with one hand. Their free hand should be used to have all liquids inside these tubes to be gently squeezed out. These should be squeezed from top to bottom. They have to ensure that all fluids will be pushed down the drainage bulbs. At these times, it is normal for the tubes to stretch.

If the drainage bulbs have volume indicators, they should hold them at eye level so that they can clearly measure them. If the bulbs do not have volume indicators, they can utilize measuring cups, instead. They will have to open these things and pour the liquids to the cups. They have to make sure that they will not leave even small amounts. These fluids are typically pinkish or yellowish ones.

The person should be taking note of the volume of this liquid and recording it on his log book. He should also be indicating the time beside it. The doctor will be using this record in determining if he could already be removing the drain or not yet. Afterwards, the patient should be pouring the contents down the toilet and flushing it.

The measuring cups should be washed after being utilized. Peroxide can be applied on these things for bacterias to be avoided. These things should be stored in similar places together, such as the clean towels, pens, and log books, so that their routines can be performed continuously. However, these should be kept away from the children.

After finishing his routine, the patient should be pinning the drain back to his clothes. He should also be washing his hands again thoroughly. If he wants to, he could be applying peroxide on the skin around the incision to see to it that possible bacteria will not be entering from there.

If he notices that the skin around his incision where the tube is sticking out is becoming swollen or red, he should be immediately consulting his doctor. He should also be doing the same thing if he notices that the fluid has pus or bright red color and smells bad. The doctor will be taking the appropriate actions in remedying the situation.




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