How to Care for (Jackson Pratt) JP Drains

culled from:wikihow.com

Steps

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Follow your doctor's instructions. First and foremost, follow your doctor's instructions on how to care for your drains. This how-to is NOT meant to replace your doctor's instructions!

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   Understand what the drains are doing. After any large amount of tissue is removed from inside your body, your body attempts to fill the space with fluid. This fluid will slow your healing process. The purpose of the drains is to remove the fluid. The drain itself is a simple device, and consists of three parts: (a) a flat piece with holes that is inside the body, (b) a length of tubing running from the flat piece through a small incision to the outside of the body, and (c) a plastic bulb at the end of the tubing. The plastic bulb has a small spout and plug on it. The plug is opened, the bulb is squeezed to push air out of the bulb, the plug is closed, and the gentle suction of the bulb over time pulls the fluid out of the body and into the plastic bulb. The fluid collects in the bulb, and the bulb is emptied from time to time.
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   Dress for success. Wear loose clothing, and make sure that nothing pulls on the drains. They should be kept against your body, and protected.
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   Secure the drains. The bulb of the drains comes with a plastic loop securement strap so that it can be secured to your shirt with a safety pin. Never, NEVER pin the bulb to your pants! If you forget it's there, and pull down your pants, you may pull the whole drain out of your body, requiring an emergency trip to your doctor! Alternatively, you can make a small pouch to hold the bulb, and hang it around your neck with a length of string. Just make sure that the bulb is kept at about waist level, or the fluid won't drain properly, slowing your healing time. For this reason, don't keep the bulb in a shirt pocket. This is too high.
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   Make a schedule for emptying your drains. Your doctor will give you instructions on how often s/he wants you to empty your drains. The instructions will probably be something like every 12 hours. Pick times that don't interfere with your sleeping schedule.
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   Empty your drains. You may need to have someone help you with this.
   1. Get your materials together. On a clean countertop, gather fresh gauze pads, fresh gauze sponges (large gauze pads), oral thermometer, surgical tape, soap and water, measuring cup (special-purpose, provided by your doctor), and your data recording sheet. [1]
   2. Wash your hands. Wash your hand with soap and water.
   3. Remove the bandage. Loosen the bandage tape and gently remove the old bandage. Throw it away.
   4. Inspect the site. Look for any new redness, swelling, or bad odors. Check to see if any stitches have come out, or are coming undone. If any of these occurs, call your doctor and report it when you're done emptying your drains.
   5. Clean the site. With soap and water and a fresh gauze sponge, gently clean the area around the incision site. Wipe in a direction away from the incision site. Wipe away the soap, and let the skin air dry.
   6. Replace the bandage. The new gauze bandage should completely surround the site, but not cover the plastic tubing. It should go UNDER the tubing. You can use scissors to cut a gauze pad from one edge to the center, then put the pad under the tubing so that the tubing comes through the center of the pad. Or, you can use two gauze pads, each folded in half, placing one below the tubing, and the other above the tubing. Tape the gauze in place.
   7. Empty the drain(s). If you have two drains, they should be labeled (i.e., "1" and "2", "a" and "b", "upper" and "lower", etc.). Pick one, and always empty that one first, then the other.
   • Set out your measuring cup. Your doctor should have given you a cup measure (such as a urine specimen cup). It should have gradations on the side, in the form of cc (cubic centimeters) or ml (milliliters). Open the cup and set it on the counter.
   • Open the bulb. Pick up the bulb for the first drain. With the other hand, remove the plug from the spout.
   • Empty the bulb. Hold the spout over the cup, turn the bulb over, and squeeze the contents out into the cup. You won't be able to get it all out, but get out as much as you can.
   • Squeeze the air out of the bulb. Turn the bulb back right side up. Squeeze most of the air out of the bulb, and close the plug. The bulb should now be indented, drawing a very gentle vacuum on the drain inside your body.
   • Secure the bulb. Either pin the bulb to your shirt, or put it in its pouch.
   • Measure the liquid. Look at the liquid, and determine how much there is in cubic centimeters (cc; also known as milliliters (ml)). Write this amount down on your data recording sheet.
   • Record the color, clarity and odor. Write down the color and clarity, and if you notice any foul odors. Just after your surgery, the fluid should be clear and red. As you heal, it should decrease in volume and become clear and pink or straw-colored.
   • Flush the fluid down the toilet.
   • Take your temperature. Record this as well.
   • Empty the second drain. Empty and record data for the second drain, if you have two.
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   You're done! Get dressed, and relax.
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   Be alert. Throughout the whole time you have drains, be alert for the following danger signs.
   • Call your doctor if you notice any of the following:
     • The fluid in the bulb is cloudy, yellow, or foul-smelling,
     • There is increased pain, swelling or redness where the drain tubing comes out of your body,
     • Holes, cracks or leaks in any part of the bulb or tubing.
   • Go to a hospital emergency room right away if:
     • You develop a fever,
     • The drain suddenly stops drawing any fluid out,
     • The drain suddenly starts filling up with bright red blood, or your bandages become soaked with blood,
     • The stitches come undone,
     • The drain comes out of your body.