Types of drains

Jackson-Pratt
This oval-shaped suction system is about the size and shape of a large lemon. To reestablish suction, squeeze the drain in the palm of your hand with your fingers until the
inside walls of the drain touch. While maintaining pressure, replace the plug. Slowly
release your grip to re-establish suction.
The drain should remain concave or somewhat flat. It should not be fully inflated. If the
drain is not flat, the suction is not working.

Empty drainage
fluid into a
measuring cup
and record the
amount of fluid.

A Jackson-Pratt
drain prior to
emptying

While
maintaining
pressure, replace
the plug. Slowly
release your grip
to re-establish suction.

Hemovac
A Hemovac is a round drain with springs inside that must be compressed to establish
proper suction. To re-establish suction, squeeze the drain on both sides until the drain
appears to be flat. While maintaining suction, replace the plug and release your grip.

A Hemovac drain prior to

emptying.

While
Empty
maintaining
drainage
pressure,
fluid into
replace the
a
measuring plug. Slowly release your
cup and grip to re-establish suction.
record the
amount of
fluid.

Davol
This suction device has a rubber bulb on top of the drain that acts as pump to inflate the
balloon in the drainage bottle. To re-establish suction, squeeze the rubber bulb with a
continuous pumping motion until the balloon in the drainage bottle is completely inflated.
Quickly replace the plug in the drain before the balloon deflates. The inflated balloon
inside the drainage bottle creates the suction.

A Davol drain
prior to emptying.

Empty draining
fluid into a
measuring cup
and record the
amount of fluid.

Squeeze the rubber

bulb until the
balloon in the
drainage bottle is
completely
inflated. Quickly replace the
plug in the drain before the
balloon deflates.

Correcting problems with the drain

If the drain tube becomes temporarily obstructed or is not draining properly, you may:

Bend the tubing over your fingers.

Gently squeeze the tube between your thumb and index finger, moving your
fingers along the tubing toward the suction bottle, to help dislodge the obstruction
or blood clot.

Call your physician if any of the following occur:

* The drainage suddenly stops (The drainage should decrease gradually, not abruptly.)
* There's a sudden change in the color of the drainage.
- The drainage should gradually change from blood to a straw-colored fluid.
- Call if the drainage becomes bloody again or changes to a milky white fluid.
* There's an increase in redness or swelling around the insertion site of the drain.
* You are unable to re-establish suction in the drainage system.