TY - JOUR
T1 - A Minimalist Approach to the Care of the Indwelling Closed Suction Drain
T2 - A Prospective Analysis of Local Wound Complications
AU - Reid, Russell R.
AU - Dumanian, Gregory A.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - Despite their long-standing and prevalent use, closed suction drains lack a standardized postoperative care protocol. The authors present a prospective analysis of local wound problems associated with a minimalist approach to care of the drain exit site. A total of 73 patients undergoing a variety of procedures had 192 closed suction drains left in place on average over 10 days after surgery. Drain care consisted of daily showering with soap and water for the skin, no dressings, and stripping and emptying of the drain by the patient. Ninety-one percent of the patients followed the drain protocol and showered postoperatively without particular attention to the drains. There were 5 major complications of fluid collections leading to open wounds, 5 minor wound complications, and 2 wound complications unrelated to drain exit site care. Patient follow-up averaged 10 months. Overall, these data underscore the safety and efficacy associated with a simple approach to the management of closed suction drains.
AB - Despite their long-standing and prevalent use, closed suction drains lack a standardized postoperative care protocol. The authors present a prospective analysis of local wound problems associated with a minimalist approach to care of the drain exit site. A total of 73 patients undergoing a variety of procedures had 192 closed suction drains left in place on average over 10 days after surgery. Drain care consisted of daily showering with soap and water for the skin, no dressings, and stripping and emptying of the drain by the patient. Ninety-one percent of the patients followed the drain protocol and showered postoperatively without particular attention to the drains. There were 5 major complications of fluid collections leading to open wounds, 5 minor wound complications, and 2 wound complications unrelated to drain exit site care. Patient follow-up averaged 10 months. Overall, these data underscore the safety and efficacy associated with a simple approach to the management of closed suction drains.
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U2 - 10.1097/01.sap.0000095650.39621.41
DO - 10.1097/01.sap.0000095650.39621.41
M3 - Article
C2 - 14646652
AN - SCOPUS:0345060534
SN - 0148-7043
VL - 51
SP - 575
EP - 578
JO - Annals of plastic surgery
JF - Annals of plastic surgery
IS - 6
ER -