Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery ISSN: 0970-0358 EISSN: 1998-376x Vol. 40, Num. 1, 2007, pp. 107-109

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 40, No. 1, January-June, 2007, pp. 107-109

Letter To Editor

Syringe suction drain further simplified

Sunderraj Ellur

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore
Correspondence Address:Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore - 560 034, Karnataka sundernetra@yahoo.co.in

Code Number: pl07022

Dear Sir,

Closed suction drainage is a well accepted method of drainage. Its role in preventing postoperative seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence and infection is well known. The syringe suction drain system can be effectively used in small wounds. It utilizes the readily available resources in the operation theatre. This article presents a simplified method to recharge the suction device.

A 20cc syringe, a 5cc syringe piston and a rubber band is required to assemble the system [Figure - 1]. Sterile rubber bands are readily available in our operation theatre as they are used to pack the sterile gauze pieces.

When a suction drain is deemed necessary in a small wound we close the wound over a No. 8 infant feeding tube, which then receives the syringe suction assembly, thereby functioning as a closed suction drain. A hole is made in the piston of the 5cc syringe using a hollow bore needle followed by a towel clip. A rubber band is then passed into the hole to form a smaller and a bigger loop [Figure - 2]. The smaller loop is then looped around the piston of the 5cc syringe [Figure - 3]. The 20cc syringe may then be connected to the infant feeding tube, negative suction applied and maintained using the 5cc syringe rubber band assembly as a stopper between the end of the 20cc piston and the end of the body of the 20cc syringe. The two pistons are then secured by looping the bigger rubber band loop around the 20cc piston [Figure - 4].

This method simplifies the process of recharging the closed suction drainage system.

By using a rubber band incorporated into the system the process of recharging is less cumbersome and simplified as compared with a plaster used by Park et al ^[1] and Gopal et al . ^[2] This method is safer than using a k wire or a large bore needle passed transversely through the 5cc piston as a stopper. ^[3] A spring used instead of a 5cc piston as described by Singh et al ^[4] would appear to be a better system but requires a specialized spring for the purpose.

References

Copyright 2007 - Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery

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