The following question from our forum is from a man who is having problems with his surgical drain following a tummy tuck operation. The drainage fluid is not going into the drain tubing and bulb like it is suppose to but rather coming out of the hole where the surgeon inserted the tubing into his skin.

Date: 07/01/2010 Submitted by: Chris

I had a mini complex abdominoplasty yesterday and had one drain put in. Almost all of my draining has come from tube site in body, what a mess. Doctor didn’t seem alarmed but I don’t see anybody else having this problem. Chris

RESPONSE

Date: 07/01/2010 Submitted by: Tanner

Chris,
I don’t understand your problem. What is a mess? What makes it complex? Tanner

FOLLOW-UP
Complex? Who knows? That’s what doc called it. The mess is from the drainage coming out of the drainage tube site, from my skin, only a few drops in actual drain. I have been shoving towels in my shorts. No way to measure it. Maybe he called it complex because I have a kidney transplant inside left hipbone. Chris

Chris,
I see your point. That really would be messy and very inconvenient. Changing out fluid soaked bandages or towels for days or even weeks would “get old” real fast. I haven’t heard of anyone else having this problem either. I don’t know how often this happens. My drain tube penetration sites were nice and dry. It sounds like the suction end of the drain tube is not located at the source of the fluid build-up. Of course it is still very early after your surgery. Things may change. If it continues for a while like this and the drain collects little or no fluid, why not ask your surgeon if it would be advisable for him to “pull out” an inch or two of the drain tube in an effort to reposition the suction end in order to find the right spot and allow it to work properly. If I remember correctly I had about 5 inches of tubing inside of me when my surgeon removed it. The good thing is that the fluid is coming out of your body. Good luck. Tanner

Tanner,
Thanks for responding. I go back on Monday (yes, a holiday) for pain pump to be removed so I’ll ask then. Meanwhile I am embarrassed to admit I went and bought Depends!!!!!! Chris