Surgical Drains In Too Long? Purple Color Drainage?
The following post from our
forum
is from a woman who had a tummy tuck 12 days ago and still has her surgical
drains. Her drainage is deep purple in color. She is wondering if this is
normal.
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Date: 12/27/2011 |
Submitted by: Melissa |
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I am a healthy 29 yo female and am 12 days post op
from my complete tummy tuck. My incision looks
great, I feel really good and my pain is minimal. My
only issue is my right drain is still accumulating
80-90cc in 24 hours. Also the fluid has never turned
yellow in color like I expected. It is still a deep
dark purple color. My left drain is down to 20cc in
24 hours but is also a dark purple. Being I feel
good and am relatively healthy I fully expected to
have the drains out by now. I see the Dr tomorrow
but am looking for any advice!! I haven't heard of
too many people keeping them in this long. Thanks!
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RESPONSE
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| Date: 12/27/2011 |
Submitted by:
Tanner |
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Melissa,
From what I understand, still having your drains
installed 12 days after surgery is not too uncommon.
There are a number of people in the tummy tuck forum
who had surgical drains for two weeks and longer.
It sounds like you are doing pretty well. Don’t be
in too much of a hurry to get the drains removed.
Drains that are removed too soon can lead to medical
problems like seromas. Having them installed for the
proper length of time may also prevent having the
doctor to manually remove pooled pockets of fluids
with a syringe.
Since you are seeing your doctor tomorrow, just be
sure to make a list of all of your questions and
concerns and get the answers directly from him/her.
There is nothing that I could suggest to help your
drains stop draining except what you are already
doing (wearing your compression garment, drinking
fluids and not to overdo the exercise).
Good luck,
Tanner
Follow-Up Email
Tanner, Thank you for your help on my previous
question! I am now 21 days post op and still have
both drains. One drain has been at 23-26 cc’s for
the past 4 days now. I saw my doctor 10 days ago and
he said to contact him when I was at 20cc for 24
hours. It feels like I am never going to get there!!
I am going to see him tomorrow and was curious if in
your experience that was too much fluid to remove
the drain. I am geared up to convince him to at
least take that one out! They are painful,
uncomfortable and not easy to hide under clothes in
a professional office setting. My other side is
putting out about 40 cc’s in 24 hours still.
Whatever insight you can provide would be
appreciated. Thank you so much for your help, it's
nice to know there is someone out there who
understands!!
Response
Melissa, From what I understand, still having your
drains installed 12 days after surgery is not too
uncommon.
There are a number of people in the tummy tuck forum
who had surgical drains for two weeks and longer.
It sounds like you are doing pretty well. Don’t be
in too much of a hurry to get the drains removed.
Drains that are removed too soon can lead to medical
problems like seromas. Having them installed for the
proper length of time may also prevent having the
doctor to manually remove pooled pockets of fluids
with a syringe.
Since you are seeing your doctor tomorrow, just be
sure to make a list of all of your questions and
concerns and get the answers directly from him/her.
There is nothing that I could suggest to help your
drains stop draining except what you are already
doing (wearing your compression garment, drinking
fluids and not to overdo the exercise).
Good luck,
Tanner
Follow-Up Email
I have heard from so many other people that under
30cc for 2 days was what their doctor told them and
I have been under 30cc for a week now! I find that
most frustrating. If I had a different doc they
would be gone. For whatever reason my doc tells his
patients under 20 in 24 hr. I am sure it is a only
for our own good. Thank again for your response, I
really do appreciate it!
Response
Melissa, I am not sure I would do any “convincing”.
I would let the surgeon use his medical judgment in
determining when to remove the drains. Putting up
with the discomfort and inconvenience for a few more
days (if that’s what it takes) is probably a lot
better than dealing with possible complications. If
you remove the drains too soon the drainage that is
still flowing has nowhere to go and will pool inside
your body making your feel uncomfortable, swelled up
and force your surgeon to remove it manually
(possibly multiple times).
Which is better? Having the drains or having the
possible complications and longer recovery time?
I can’t tell you if that is too much fluid to remove
the drain.
I was told "after the amount of fluid put out by the
drains falls below 30cc over a 24-hour period for 2
consecutive days, then the drains can be removed". I
don’t remember if that pertained to a single drain
or the combined total of both drains. Anyway, each
doctor uses his own judgment.
It seems like the other drain is slowing down but
doesn’t seem to be there yet (my guess).
Sorry I can’t tell you more.
Good luck tomorrow.
Tanner
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