Get Drainage Record

It is common for small debris or a blood clot to be found inside the tubing or bulb. The blood clot appears as a dark, stringy lining. It could prevent the drainage from flowing through the tube. Try to strip the drain to move the clot into the bulb.

Record the amount of fluid each time you empty the drain. Include the date and time it was emptied. Share this information with your healthcare provider on your next visit.

Normal wound drainage involves the discharge of thin, watery fluids that may be clear or contain tiny amounts of blood. Abnormal wound drainage is when the discharge is thick, bloody, or has a milky white, yellow, green, gray, or brown color (often with a foul smell).

A mild amount of drainage from the incision is normal. If the drainage fluid is thin, watery, and pinkish red, there is likely nothing to be concerned about. However, there are instances in which you should be concerned about drainage from your incision.

Drainage is bloody following surgery, but as time passes it should become straw-colored, then clear. Discharge should never look cloudy or like pus. If it does, contact your physician. The amount of fluid will decrease as time passes.

How Long do Surgical Drains Stay in? It depends on which surgical procedure you had done. The drains typically stay in place until they are draining less than 30ml's of fluid per day. Face lift and neck lift drains usually come out within 1-3 days, as well as breast reduction drains.

The amount of serosanguineous fluid should decrease each day and the color of the fluid will turn light pink or light yellow. Your surgeon will usually remove the bulb when drainage is below 25 ml per day for two days in a row. On average, JP drains can continue to drain for 1 to 5 weeks.