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.

A Jackson-Pratt drain prior to emptying

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

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.