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UNIT 4 Supporting Physiological Functioning
Procedure 32-14 ■ Emptying a Closed-Wound Drainage System (continued)
Procedure Steps 1. Read the instructions about the drainage device. Procedures vary among manufacturers and different systems. 2. Perform hand hygiene. Don non- sterile gloves and goggles or mask. 3.Unfasten the drainage device from the patient’s gown. The drainage device is often pinned to the patient’s gown to prevent it from dislodging. 4.Open the drainage port and empty the drainage into a small, grad- uated container.
5. With the port still open, place the collection device on a firm, flat surface (e.g., the overbed table). 6. Use the palm of one hand to press down on the device and eject air from it. Do not stand directly over the air vent. Do not touch the drainage port. It can splash or bubble. 7. Use your other hand to scrub the port and plug with an alcohol- based antiseptic or povidone-iodine swab (Betadine) if the patient is not allergic to iodine.
10.Measure the drainage in the graduated container. Discard drain- age in the container for biohazard- ous material. Wash the graduated container. Do not stand in front of an air vent while doing so. Forced air in the room can cause the drainage to splash or bubble, introducing biohazardous material into the environ- mental air. 11.Remove your gloves. Perform hand hygiene. 12. Document in the patient’s record. What if . . . ■ The wound drainage spills? Don nonsterile gloves and protec- tive clothing. Keep people away from the spill area. If sharps are present, remove with forceps. Contain the spill with absorbent pads and place all used materials in a red biohazard bag. Use an approved disinfectant. When finished, place all materials including gloves and gowns in the bag and dis- pose in the biohazard area. Proper handling of contaminated biomedi- cal materials is important to prevent trans- mission of infectious organisms.
8. Continuing to press down on the device, replace the plug in the port. Do not touch the open port or the part of the plug that goes into the port. Creates a constant, negative pressure vac- uum to facilitate suction. 9. Attach the drainage device to the patient’s gown. Keeps it secure and prevents it from acci- dentally dislodging.
Home Care ■ Teach family members who are emptying drainage systems at home to wear gloves and avoid touching the drainage port. Documentation ■ Note the date and time the drainage system is emptied. ■ Record the volume lost. Report excess fluid loss to the healthcare provider. ■ Describe the appearance of drainage, including presence of blood or purulent material. Sample Documentation 00/00/0000 0750 Hemovac drained 18 mL serosanguineous fluid over 12 hours. No odor or purulent material noted at drainage site. —R. Ferretti, RN
Practice Resource Wechter, D.G. (2020, February 28).
Thinking About the Procedure
The video Emptying a Closed-Wound Drainage System, along with questions and suggested responses, is available on the Davis’s Nursing Skills Videos Web site on FADavis.com.
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