Abstract

Surgical drainage has been utilized throughout history in most types of surgery, provides benefits in the post-operative period to “prevent or evacuate accumulations of fluid or gas” [1]. Surgical drains are used to eliminate dead space, evacuate accumulation of fluid, remove fluid (pus, blood, serous exudate, chyle or bile), prevent the accumulation of fluid, decrease infection rate. Surgical drains are used in a therapeutic, diagnostic prophylactic, monitoring & palliative setting. Surgical drains can be characterized as open or closed drains, and active and passive drains [2]. Open drains (include corrugated rubber or plastic sheets) drain fluid on to a gauze pad or into a stoma bag, but increase infection rate. Closed drains are formed by tubes draining into a bag or bottle (abdominal or thoracic cavity), but infection rate is low [3].