How long should an abdominal incision drain?

The amount of serosanguineous fluid should decrease each day and the color of the fluid will turn light pink or light yellow. Your surgeon will usually remove the bulb when drainage is below 25 ml per day for two days in a row. On average, JP drains can continue to drain for 1 to 5 weeks.

How long should a drain be left in after surgery?

Generally speaking, a drain can be removed when there is less than 30 cubic centimeters (1 ounce) of fluid for two straight days or three weeks after surgery, whichever comes first. Having a drain removed usually does not hurt, but it can feel rather odd as the tubing slides out of the body.

When should drain be removed after abdominal surgery?

Generally, drains should be removed once the drainage has stopped or becomes less than about 25 ml/day. Drains can be ‘shortened’ by withdrawing them gradually (typically by 2 cm per day) and so, in theory, allowing the site to heal gradually.

Is it normal for a wound to drain after surgery?

A fresh wound should drain more than one that is healing properly. If you’ve had surgery, a little serous or sanguineous drainage from the incision is normal. However, excessive bleeding could mean a blood vessel was injured during the operation.

When to remove surgical drains?

A surgical drain is usually removed within a week after surgery at the patient’s post-operative follow-up. When complications occur, however, such as a large increase in the amount of drainage or the drain begins to leak, patients are usually directed to call their surgeon for immediate wound treatment.

What are the different types of surgical drains?

Types of Surgical Drains. The two most common types of surgical drains that I have dealt with are Jackson-Pratt (JP) drains, accordian drains, and wound vacuums (commonly called wound vacs).

How long does drainage last after surgery?

Typically patients will have drains 7-14 days. The drainage itself changes over that course. At the beginning it will be brighter red. It fades in color over time and often at the end is straw colored. Your surgeon will guide you as to when the drains are ready to be removed.

Why do you drain after surgery?

A drain can also reduce pain after surgery. A surgical drain is placed to keep fluid or infectious material from building up at the site of your surgery. The drain does exactly what it sounds like: it drains fluid away and out of the body, just like a plumbing drain. A drain can be placed during surgery or as an outpatient procedure.