Surgical Drains

• Prophylactic– Remove pus, blood, serous exudates, chyle

or bile.– Form a controlled fistula (e.g. t-tube after bile

duct exploration)

Surgical Drains

• Therapeutic – Drain pus, blood, serous exudates, chyle or

bile.– Drain air from pleural cavity.– Drain Ascitis.

Surgical Drains

• Arguments for their use include: – Drainage of fluid removes potential sources of

infection – Drains guard against further fluid collections – May allow the early detection of anastomotic

leaks or haemorrhage – Leave a tract for potential collections to drain

following removal

Surgical Drains

• Arguments against their use include: – Presence of a drain increases the risk of

infection – Damage may be caused by mechanical

pressure or suction – Drains may induce an anastomotic leak

Classification

• Open System

• Closed System

jackson pratt (JP) drain

Penrose Drain

Pezzer Catheter

Pig-tail catheter

Pig Tail Catheter

T-tube

Chest tube