Surgery - Wound Drains

Question 1

What are active drains?

Answer 1

Wound drains involving suction forces provided by vaccuumed containers
-used to draw out collections

Question 2

What are passive drains?

Answer 2

Wound drains using differential pressures (e.g. gravity)

-risk of reversed pressure introducing bacteria

Question 3

What are open drains?

Answer 3

Passive drains leading into dressing/stoma

• provides a conduit around which secretions can flow
• tubes or corrugated sheets

Question 4

What are closed drains?

Answer 4

Tube systems draining directly into container w/ OR w/o suction (passive/active)

Question 5

What are the indications for drain placement?

Answer 5

Remove existing abnormal collections
Prevent build up of bodily fluids
To warn of potentially serious complications

Question 6

What are the indications for removal of drains?

Answer 6

Time-course, varying by drain type

Question 7

What are the common complications of wound drains?

Answer 7

Damage to structures during insertion
   -avoid by image-guided insertion
Damage to structures due to pressure effects
Infection
   -avoid by timely removal of drain
Failure of drain