Drain, Surgical | Health Encyclopedia: Drain, Surgical

Drain, Surgical: From 1 Different Sources

An appliance inserted into a body cavity or wound to release air or to permit drainage.

Drains range from simple soft rubber tubes that pass from a body cavity into a dressing to wide-bore tubes that connect to a collection bag or bottle.

Suction drains are thin tubes with many small holes to help collect fluid or air, which is drawn into a vacuum bottle.

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association

Surgical Spirit

A liquid preparation, consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol, that has a soothing and hardening effect when applied to the skin.

It may be used before injections as an antiseptic.... surgical spirit

Day Surgical Centre / Clinic

A free-standing ambulatory surgery centre, independent of a hospital.... day surgical centre / clinic

Menopause, Surgical

A term rather callously used to describe the cessation of ovarian hormones as a result of a radical hysterectomy...or what the British more honestly refer to as castration.... menopause, surgical

Dermatome, Surgical

A surgical instrument for cutting varying thicknesses of skin for use in skin grafting.... dermatome, surgical

Emphysema, Surgical

The abnormal presence of air in tissues under the skin following surgery or injury.... emphysema, surgical

Hypothermia, Surgical

The deliberate reduction of body temperature to prolong the period for which the vital organs can safely be deprived of their normal blood supply during open heart surgery.

Cold reduces the rate of metabolism in tissues and thus increases their tolerance to lack of oxygen.

Cooling may be achieved by continuously instilling cold saline at about 4°C into the open chest cavity.... hypothermia, surgical

1. n. a device, usually a tube or wick, used to draw fluid from an internal body cavity to the surface. A drain is sometimes inserted during an operation to ensure that any fluid formed immediately passes to the surface, so preventing an accumulation that may become infected or cause pressure in the operation site. Negative pressure (suction) can be applied through a tube drain to increase its effectiveness. Chest drains can be used in the treatment of chest trauma to drain blood (haemothorax) or air (pneumothorax) that accumulates in the pleural space. 2. vb. see drainage.... drain