Patient Education Bariatric Surgery Patient Education | Page 10

Surgical Drain
Your doctor may use a bulb suction (Jackson-Pratt) drain in your surgical
wound to help promote healing and to reduce the chance of infection. The
drain lets fluid out of the wound area. A dressing is used around the drain
to absorb the drainage and keep the site clean and dry. It also protects
the drain and wound site. A Jackson-Pratt drain has a bulb that attaches
to the end of the tube. The fluid from the wound comes through the tube
and collects in the bulb. The bulb needs to be opened and emptied every 8
hours or as needed. Many patients pin the drainage tube to their clothing
or abdominal binder to prevent it from pulling loose or tugging their skin.
Emptying the Surgical Drain
When the bulb is emptied, the fluid needs to be measured. Use a small
medicine or measuring cup and keep a record of the amount of fluid that
collects in the drain. Once you empty the bulb, just squeeze it to remove
any air and replace the cap. This causes a suction to be formed in the drain
to pull more fluid out.
Dressing Change Around a Drain
Change your dressing at least once a day, or as directed by your doctor. If
the dressing gets wet or comes loose, change it right away.
When you change the dressing, check to see how your wound is healing.
Look at the skin at the wound site to check for any signs of infection or
changes. If you notice any of these signs, call your surgeon’s office right
away:
• Swelling
• Redness
• Foul odor
• Yellow or green drainage
• A large increase in the amount of drainage
• The drainage changes from a clear to a bloody
• Shaking or chills
• Fever greater than 101 (38.3 C°)
• Heart rate over 100 beats per minute
Your drain will be removed 7-10 days after surgery in your surgeon’s office
at your first post-operative checkup.
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