drainage

A drainage is applied to ensure the drainage of wound fluids from the body. The procedure can be used both therapeutically and preventively.

What is the drainage?

With a drainage, too drainage written, it is a medical method for draining wound fluids from body cavities, wounds or abscesses. This includes blood, pus, and secretions. However, penetrated gases can also be removed from the body with this method. For this purpose, doctors use so-called drains. These are aids such as tubes or hoses that are used to drain the wound fluids.

Depending on the place of action of the method, which is primarily used in surgery, a distinction is made between external and internal drainage. External drainages are used more frequently than internal ones. The doctor takes a derivation from inside the body to the outside. To do this, he uses special plastic hoses.

Internal drains are created to bypass internal obstacles during surgery. This can be short circuits (anastomoses) of hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines or esophagus, which serve to create continuity.

Function, effect & goals

Drainage is used as part of an operation. During a surgical procedure, for example, blood, wound secretions or tissue fluid usually accumulate. The body can also absorb and break down certain amounts of fluid itself. By creating a drain, the accumulation of fluid in the wound cavity can be prevented. This makes the healing process much easier.

Medical professionals differentiate between several types of drainage. Redon drainage is one of the most common forms. This was named after the French doctor Redon and is mostly used in the subcutaneous fatty tissue or a joint. This creates a suction that pulls the wound surfaces together. This allows the wound to stick together and grow together more quickly. The Redon drainage can be removed after about 48 to 72 hours, which ultimately depends on the extent of the wound secretion.

The Robinson drainage system is a closed wound drainage system. The bag is not replaced. Instead, the secretion is drained off via a drain port. The Robinson drainage, which is inserted intra-abdominally, works without suction. It serves as a target drainage within the surgical region. They divert any bleeding outwards.

Another form of drainage is the capillary drainage. It is applied as a drain in the abdominal cavity or in the case of soft tissue infections. It is also used to prevent anastomotic leakage. The discharge of the secretion takes place either in the bandage or an ostomy bag. The capillary drainage can remain in the body until the secretion has completely drained away.

A so-called Schlurfer is called a Shirley drainage. This drainage is primarily used in the abdominal region for abscesses. There she diverts the secretion under suction. Suction is prevented by means of a valve. A T-drainage is a drainage in the bile duct with a rubber tube that looks like the letter T. The secretion is diverted through the abdominal wall into a special collection bag. The T-drainage is used for temporary drainage of the bile in the event of an obstruction to drainage caused by swelling of the mucous membrane following an operation. The pancreas drainage, which is used on the pancreas, works in a similar way to the T-drainage. If the drainage is obstructed due to swelling, it diverts the aggressive secretion from the gland.

Another type of drainage is thoracic drainage. With the help of a skin incision, the surgeon inserts it into the pleural space. It can be operated with constant suction or a simple water lock.

Different materials are used for the different types of drainage. Their use depends on the respective purpose. The material includes silicone, which is suitable for long-term drainage and is well tissue-compatible, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used almost exclusively for suction drains. Other materials are siliconized latex, latex and natural rubber. While siliconized latex is well suited for long-term drainage, latex and natural rubber are used for short-term drainage.

Risks, side effects & dangers

There are seldom risks to be feared when installing an external drainage system. This procedure primarily serves to relieve the patient. In rare cases, however, erosion bleeding can occur. Such damage occurs when the adjacent soft tissue is affected by the rigid end of the tube, which is possible due to a longer stay. An injury to the blood vessels is considered particularly dangerous. This can lead to life-threatening bleeding.

Another risk when inserting a drain is the risk of infection. The drainage and catheter systems thus form an entrance for germs of various kinds. The pathogens enter via the hose through which they enter the patient's organism. It is also conceivable for the germs to rise on the outer wall of the hose. The longer the patient has to lie down, the greater their risk of contracting an infection. In most cases an ascending infection shows up after about two days. However, the drainage is usually removed after one to three days.

If a drainage remains in the wound for a longer period of time, the ends of the hose will increasingly stick together within the wound. This often leads to pain when removing the hose.