Fleming Island Plastic Surgery

Post-Operative Patient Resource

Drain Care & Daily Log

Review your drain care instructions, record drainage amounts throughout the day, and keep your progress saved on this device for your follow-up appointments.

Autosave is on Your log is saved on this device.

How your drain works

After Care Instructions

Your drain works by suction from the compressed bulb. This removes fluid from the surgical site and assists in wound healing. Before discharge from the surgery center, you will be shown how to care for the drain and drain site.

It is important that you follow these instructions and record the drainage amount. Bring your recordings to your follow-up appointments with your doctor or nurse.

Drain bulb diagrams showing the drainage plug, suction port, drainage port, anti-reflux valve, emptying the bulb, and reactivating suction.

Care of the drain and drain site

  1. The drain should be stripped every 1-2 hours while awake. Use one hand to hold the drain securely next to the insertion site and, using the other hand's thumb and forefinger, squeeze all the way down the tube to the bulb. Using an alcohol wipe to strip eases this stripping motion.
  2. Clean area around drain with cotton swab and a warm, soapy water mixture twice daily.
  3. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment with cotton swab.
  4. Cover with dressing as instructed by your doctor.

To empty the bulb

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Hold the bulb upright (drainage plug on top).
  3. Remove the drainage plug to release pressure.
  4. Allow bulb to fully expand.
  5. Turn the bulb upside down and GENTLY squeeze the fluid into the medicine cup.
  6. Place the medicine cup on the counter for accurate measurements in cc's.

To reactivate suction

  1. Squeeze the bulb to remove the air.
  2. While squeezing, close drainage plug.
  3. Release the bulb.
  4. The bulb will stay collapsed or concave.
  5. Wash your hands.

Important

  1. Be sure to empty the bulb before it fills completely or the drain will not work properly.
  2. Keep accurate records on the amount and quality of fluid.
  3. Be careful to keep the drain tightly in place.
  4. An airtight seal is necessary between both the skin and the drain and the drain and the bulb for the system to work properly.
  5. Pay attention to how your wound is healing and keep accurate record for your doctor.

After drain is removed

  1. You may shower 24 hours after drain was removed.
  2. Apply antibiotic ointment with cotton swab for two days following drain removal.
  3. Cover with bandage for two days.
  4. Call if the drain site continues to drain more than 48 hours after drain removal.

Notify Your Doctor if:

  • Drain falls out.
  • Change in color of fluid or unusual amounts of fluid.
  • Drain becomes clogged.
  • Redness around the site.
  • Fluids around drain site.
  • Bulb does not stay flat after reactivating.
Call (904) 900-2704