Breast Patients Discharged with Exudrain: Following surgery to the breast and / or under the arm, a wound drain may be inserted. This helps to prevent fluid from collecting and causing swelling thereby reducing the risk of infection. It also helps in reducing any bruising to the area.
Leaflet Details
| Title | Breast Patients Discharged with Exudrain |
| Department | Breast Clinic |
| Author(s) | Regina Santos |
| Review Date | June 2021 |
| Next Review | June 2023 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
Introduction
Following surgery to the breast and / or under the arm, a wound drain may be inserted. This helps to prevent fluid from collecting and causing swelling thereby reducing the risk of infection. It also helps in reducing any bruising to the area.
The drain is removed when the amount draining is less than 25 mls per 24 hours or after seven days, whichever is sooner. In some situations the drain is left for a longer period of time. The drain is usually removed by the breast care nurses or occasionally we may arrange this to be done through your district nurses.
You will be advised to bring a specific bag in which to keep your drain. This can be attached to your waist with a belt.
Emptying the drain
During your hospital stay, your 24-hour drain output is measured; this is done by squeezing the bulb to empty the fluid into a measuring jug.
On discharge, you will be advised to measure the drain output at a time that is convenient for you, e.g. every morning. What is important is that the 24-hour output is measured at roughly the same time each day.
You will be provided with a measuring jug, a syringe and some antiseptic wipes. Your nurse will show you how to empty the bulb and measure the drainage. The drain is removed when the drainage is clear and the output is equal to or less than 25mls in 24 hours. Your Breast Care Nurse will advise you if the drain needs to stay longer.
Emptying the bulb into the main bag
Immediately after the operation, the bulb is connected into the main bag. This will facilitate possible large amount of drainage to collect into the main bag. You can keep this bag overnight and disconnect in the morning.
You need to follow these simple steps:
1. Close clamp 1
Open clamp 2
3. Squeeze the bulb to empty the fluid into the main bag
4. With bulb squeezed, close clamp 2
5. Open clamp 1
6. Un-screw the main bag and seal it with the cap
7. Measure output from the bag
8. Pour fluid down the toilet and put bag inside a plastic bag in the normal waste
Emptying the bulb and Reactivating Suction
2. Squeeze the bulb to empty the fluid into the jug provided
3. Wipe off any blood from the tip and apply the cap
4. With bulb squeezed, close clamp 2
5. Open clamp 1
6. Measure output and document amount and colour in the drain logbook at the end of this leaflet. Use syringe provided to measure smaller output.
7. Pour fluid down the toilet
Note: You may need to empty the bulb more than once in the next few days after the operation. Drain needs to be emptied and suction re-activated if you notice the bulb fully expanded.
Removal of the Drain
Before you are discharged from hospital, a plan will have been put in place for removal of the drain once the volume of drainage has reduced. This is usually arranged with a breast care nurse or, if appropriate, the ward nurses will make the necessary referral for the District Nurse to visit you at home.
Contact the breast care nurses if:
- The area around the drain site feels swollen or warm
- The breast / chest or under the arm on the operation site feels swollen or warm
- The drainage tubing has been pulled out so that the holes in the tubing are showing. This may be noticed by you because the bulb keeps feeling with air, but little fluid is draining
- The amount of fluid draining each day is increasing rather than decreasing
- The fluid suddenly seems to stops draining altogether
Drain Logbook
The leaflet contains the drain logbook to record:
- Day after Operation
- Amount drained per 24 hours (mls)
Contact Numbers
After discharge, should you have any concerns or queries, please contact the Breast Care Nurses during office hours.
Telephone numbers of Breast Care Nurses are:
Ashford Hospital direct
01784 884411
Via switchboard
01932 872000 bleep: 5129
At evenings and weekends direct telephone number of the ward:
Dickens Ward
01784 884004 / 884574
Kingfisher Ward
01932 722380 / 722564
Details regarding our hospitals, including information regarding the department caring for you can be found by logging on to our website www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk or the National NHS website www.nhs.uk which includes an A to Z guide to health.
