Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Surgical DrainsDiscomfort or PainCaring for a Surgical DrainWhen the Drain Is RemovedFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Surgical Drains
Discomfort or Pain
Caring for a Surgical Drain
When the Drain Is Removed
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve never had a surgical drain, it’s no wonder why you may fear it; it’s an unknown. So it may help to know this: The device can speed healing, prevent complications, and reduce your post-surgery pain.
Even better, perhaps: It’s a low-maintenance device, and caring for it should be simple and straightforward.
This article explains how there are many types of surgical drains and how most of them do not cause pain, though they can be uncomfortable. Caring for a drain requires some common sense methods. Most drains are removed at the doctor’s office.
Mathisa_s / Getty Images
A surgical drain is meant to keep fluid or infectious material from building up at or near the site of a surgical procedure. It does exactly what it sounds like it does: drains blood and fluids away and out of the body, just like a plumbing drain.
There are many types of drains, ranging fromchest tubesthat keep fluid from accumulating around the heart after open-heart surgery and lung surgery to small, bulb-type drains that apply gentle suction. The bulb can be secured near the bandage or attached to your clothes with a safety pin.
The type of drain you will get depends on the type of surgery you will have, what part of your body the surgery will be performed on, and the personal preference of your surgeon. You may have one drain or several, depending on the nature of the problem.
Signs of Infection After Surgery
By and large, drains are not painful to have in place. But they can cause discomfort, depending on how big they are and where they are placed.
Typically, the discomfort is mild. But it’s fair to say that the larger the drain, the greater the likelihood that it will cause some pain.
If pain occurs, use Tylenol (acetaminophen) rather thannonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugslike aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen), which can promote bleeding.
If you are sent home with a drain, be sure to protect it, making sure it doesn’t dangle freely or in such a way that it could be accidentally dislodged. Some drains come loose when too much weight is placed on them.
Some people use bandage tape that can be purchased at a drug store to keep the drain near the incision site and securely in place.
Avoid bathing in a tubwhen you have an incision that has not completely healed or a drain in place unless your surgeon says it’s safe to do so. Take the time to inspect the area around the drain forsigns of infection, just as you would a surgical incision.
Changing the Dressing
Your doctor should tell you how often he expects you to change the dressing. He may even want you to document the times you do this and note the color of the fluid.
Good drain care is similar togood incision care. Wash your hands before the following steps:
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:ChillsCloudy, pus-like fluid with a foul odorFever of 100.5 degreesRedness, swelling, heat, or tenderness at the incision siteThe tube falling out or the stitches holding it in place coming loose
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:ChillsCloudy, pus-like fluid with a foul odorFever of 100.5 degreesRedness, swelling, heat, or tenderness at the incision siteThe tube falling out or the stitches holding it in place coming loose
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:
Drains are removed when no further surgery or additional procedures are needed. In general, a drain is 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.
How the drain goes out largely depends on how it went in. It may leave the body through the surgical incision. Or a new, small incision may be made specifically for the drain itself.
The drain may have sutures holding it in place to prevent it from being accidentally dislodged. In this case, the sutures are cut and the drain is gently pulled out.
Having a drain removed usually does not hurt, but it can feel rather odd as the tubing slides out of the body. The incision is then covered with a dressing or left open to the air.
Stitches usually are not needed. But it’s a good idea to avoid swimming or soaking in a tub for several days.
RecapExpect that your surgical drain will be removed at your doctor’s office. It’s one less task you will be responsible for.
Recap
Expect that your surgical drain will be removed at your doctor’s office. It’s one less task you will be responsible for.
Summary
Even mildly squeamish people have been known to balk over having a surgical drain in place. But sometimes seeing a drain in action can change their mind. After surgery, fluids continue to pool near the surgical area. Instead of letting the fluids stay there—and risk infection—a surgical drain ushers the fluids out. You have to be careful while a surgical drain is in place, but many people are glad to see their healing progress reflected in the changing color of the fluids. They typically go from red (representing blood) to clear.
How to Prevent or Minimize Surgery Scars
This common drain removes excess fluid that builds up at a surgical site. It’s made up of a long, thin tube attached to a small hand-held bulb used to suction out the fluid. Generally, in the first few days after surgery, it is emptied every four to six hours until the amount of fluid decreases.
The fluid drained from a wound after surgery is called exudate—liquid that drains from an open wound. It consists of fluid and leukocytes, which are cells that make up the immune system. Leukocytes promote healing.Expect the fluid in the drain to change colors as the wound heals. It may go from red (and bloody), to pink and then to light yellow and clear.Learn MoreTypes of Drainage From a Surgical Wound
The fluid drained from a wound after surgery is called exudate—liquid that drains from an open wound. It consists of fluid and leukocytes, which are cells that make up the immune system. Leukocytes promote healing.Expect the fluid in the drain to change colors as the wound heals. It may go from red (and bloody), to pink and then to light yellow and clear.
Learn MoreTypes of Drainage From a Surgical Wound
In many cases after surgery, the drain is removed when there is less than 30 cubic centimeters (1 ounce) of fluid being drained for two days or when three weeks have passed.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alberta Health Services.Surgical drain care: care instructions.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Caring for your surgical drains.Knowlton MC.Nurseʼs guide to surgical drain removal.Nursing. 2015;45(9):59-61. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000470418.02063.caCleveland Clinic.Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain.Spear M.Wound exudate–the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012;32(2):77-79. doi:10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Cleveland Clinic.Surgical drain care instructions.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alberta Health Services.Surgical drain care: care instructions.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Caring for your surgical drains.Knowlton MC.Nurseʼs guide to surgical drain removal.Nursing. 2015;45(9):59-61. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000470418.02063.caCleveland Clinic.Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain.Spear M.Wound exudate–the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012;32(2):77-79. doi:10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Cleveland Clinic.Surgical drain care instructions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Alberta Health Services.Surgical drain care: care instructions.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Caring for your surgical drains.Knowlton MC.Nurseʼs guide to surgical drain removal.Nursing. 2015;45(9):59-61. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000470418.02063.caCleveland Clinic.Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain.Spear M.Wound exudate–the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012;32(2):77-79. doi:10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638Cleveland Clinic.Surgical drain care instructions.
Alberta Health Services.Surgical drain care: care instructions.
Beth Israel Lahey Health.Caring for your surgical drains.
Knowlton MC.Nurseʼs guide to surgical drain removal.Nursing. 2015;45(9):59-61. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000470418.02063.ca
Cleveland Clinic.Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain.
Spear M.Wound exudate–the good, the bad, and the ugly.Plast Surg Nurs. 2012;32(2):77-79. doi:10.1097/PSN.0b013e318256d638
Cleveland Clinic.Surgical drain care instructions.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
