If you’ve had surgery, your surgeon may have placed one or more drains in your wound to drain blood or other fluids that can build up at the surgical site. The drain has two parts—a thin rubber tube and a round squeeze bulb. The bulb acts as a reservoir for the fluids and it’s also used to create a vacuum that helps with drainage.

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What Should I Know About My Drains?

Emptying the drain and caring for your wound correctly helps you avoid infection and speeds healing. When the amount of drainage decreases to the level your doctor or nurse told you, your provider removes the drain.

These general instructions can get you started:

• Empty the reservoir at least two times a day, even if it’s not full. You may need to empty it more than twice if it gets full.
• Change the dressing around the wound at least once a day, or more often if it becomes soaked or dirty.
• “Milk” the tubing every four hours while you are awake. This is also called “stripping” the tubing, and it prevents the drain from getting clogged.

How Should I Empty My Surgical Drains?

Empty the reservoir bulb in the morning and evening, or if it gets full. First, gather all the supplies you need, including the measuring cup and chart you were given, along with a pen or pencil. Then follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands well in soapy water.
2. Open the plug on the reservoir without touching the inside of the plug.
3. Gently squeeze the reservoir to empty the fluid into the measuring cup.
4. Re-create the vacuum inside the reservoir by squeezing it flat and then replacing the plug.
5. Observe the amount of fluid and its color so you can write it down later. Then flush the fluid down the toilet.
   Wash your hands again.
6. Record the amount of fluid for each drain on the chart. Remember to bring the chart with you to your first follow-up visit with your doctor.

How Do I Keep the Tubing Open?

“Milking” or “stripping” the tubing can help prevent clots or other obstructions from clogging the tube. If you’re clearing obstructions that have already formed, you may have to repeat the process several times.

Follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands in soapy water.
2. Make sure the plug on the reservoir bulb is open, and then grip the tubing close to your skin.
   With your other hand, squeeze the tube and run your fingers toward the reservoir bulb.
3. Release your fingers from the tubing near your skin first and then at the end, near the bulb.

Putting lotion or liquid hand cleaner on your hands after washing them can help your fingers slide along the tubing.

How Should I Change the Wound Dressing?

If your wound doesn’t have a dressing, make sure to keep the wound and surrounding skin clean and dry. If you do have a dressing, it needs to be changed carefully to avoid infection. Follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands carefully in soapy water.
2. Gather your supplies. You need gauze pads, medical tape and a trash bag to dispose of your old dressing. If your wound is out of your range of vision, you also need a mirror.
3. Remove the old dressing carefully and put it in the trash bag.
4. Wash your hands again.
5. Inspect the drain site. If you notice any redness, or if the drainage smells bad or is cloudy, pale yellow or yellow-green, call your provider.
6. Fold two new pieces of gauze in half and place them around each side of the tubing at the drain site.
   Place a full piece of gauze over the first two.
7. Put two strips of medical tape over the gauze.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

Pay attention to your drain and inspect your wound every time you change the dressing. Call your doctor if any of these things happen:

• The tube falls out or the stitches that hold it in place get loose.
• You can’t re-create a vacuum in the reservoir bulb.
• Your skin becomes red or more tender or swollen near the tube.
• The drainage fluid has a bad odor, is cloudy, pale yellow or yellow-green.
• You have a temperature of 100.5 degrees F or higher.

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Hemovac Drain Care

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What is a Hemovac drain and how does it work?

A Hemovac drain is used to remove fluids that build up in an area of your body after surgery. The Hemovac drain is a circular device connected to a tube. One end of the tube is placed in the surgery site. The other end comes out through a small cut in your skin, called the drain site. The device is connected to this end. You may have 1 or more stitches to hold the tube in place. The Hemovac drain removes fluid by creating suction in the tube. The circular device is squeezed flat and expands as it fills with fluid.

How do I change the bandage around my Hemovac drain?

If you have a bandage, change it 1 time each day. Change your bandage if it gets wet.

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
  
• Loosen the tape and gently remove the old bandage. Throw the old bandage away.
• Use soap and water or saline (salt water) solution to clean your drain site. Dip a cotton swab or gauze pad in the solution and gently clean your skin. Begin cleaning near the drain site and wipe away from the site. Do not wipe towards the drain site. Use a new swab or pad after each wipe.
• Pat the area dry. Check for signs of infection or irritation near the drain site. Examples include redness, swelling, or green or yellow drainage.
• Place a new bandage on your drain site and secure it to your skin with medical tape.
• Wash your hands.

How do I empty my Hemovac drain?

Empty the drain when it is half full or every 4 to 8 hours:

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Remove the plug from the top of the drain.
• Pour the fluid into a measuring cup.
• Clean the plug with an alcohol swab or a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol.
• Squeeze the drain flat and put the plug back in. The drain should stay flat until it starts to fill with fluid again.
• Make sure the tubing is not kinked or twisted. Reattach the drain to your clothes below your surgery site so it does not pull at your skin.
• Measure the amount of fluid you pour out. Write down how much fluid you empty from the drain and the date and time you collected it. Bring this record with you to your follow-up visits.
• Flush the fluid down the toilet. Wash your hands.

When will my Hemovac drain be removed?

The amount of fluid that you drain should decrease each day. Ask your healthcare provider when and how your drain will be removed.

What are the risks of a Hemovac drain?

You may have some pain or tenderness at your drain site. You may have trouble lying on the side with your drain. Your drain site may leak. The Hemovac drain may be pulled out by accident. The tubing may crack, break, or become blocked. The tubing may damage your tissue. You may have a scar. The drain site may get infected. The infection could spread inside your body.

When should I seek immediate care?

• Your drain breaks or comes out.
• You are bleeding from your drain site.
• You have cloudy yellow or brown drainage from your drain site.
• The drainage from your drain site smells bad or looks different.
• You have increased pain, redness, or swelling around the drain site.

When should I call my doctor?

• You suddenly stop draining fluid or think your drain is blocked.
• You have a fever higher than 101.5°F (38.6°C) and chills.
• You drain less than 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) in 24 hours.
• You have questions or concerns about your Hemovac drain care.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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