In postoperative care, surgical tubes, catheters, and drains are used to drain a wound effectively. Surgical drains are tubes positioned close to surgical wounds in a recovering patient to keep pus, blood, or other fluid from building up in their body. Patient needs, surgery type, wound type, the anticipated amount of drainage, and the surgeon’s preference all influence the implanted drainage system type.  

This topic is crucial to helping you rank higher for competitive exams like NEET-PG/FMGE and INICET and aiding you in hospital postings. Since surgery is a high-yield topic, it is strongly advised that you view the videos from the subject in the DocTutorials app.

What are Tubes, Catheters, and Drains?

Surgeons occasionally insert different kinds of hollow, semi-flexible tubes into blood arteries or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These tubes can be used to administer medication, feeds, saline, or other fluids, as well as to drain or collect materials from inside the body, such as urine.

When these tubes are inserted into veins or other sterile areas, surgeons typically refer to them as “catheters.” When referring to the stomach, intestines, or any other part of your body, the word “tube” is used more frequently. 

A surgical drain is a tool that removes fluid from a wound after surgery. Following surgery, the surgical site heals by shedding cells and leaking bodily fluids. By keeping fluid from accumulating, a surgical drain can help avoid complications.

What are the Types of Tubes, Catheters, and Drains? 

There are several types of tubes, catheters, and drains available for specific medical needs. They are all listed as follows:

Types of Drains

1. Ryle’s Nasogastric Tube: Interns and doctors frequently use Ryle’s tube. This little tube can save lives in situations like poisoning and perforation. When placing Ryle’s tube into a conscious patient, the best position is to sit with the neck flexed.
2. Infant feeding Tube: This is similar to an infant’s Ryle’s tube insertion. Infants and children both need feeding tubes.
3. Kehr’s T-tube: When performing bile duct procedures, particularly following a choledochotomy, Kehr’s T-tube is utilised. The tube is placed, and the repair is completed following the incision. T-tubes function as stents. 
4. Sengstaken Blakmore Tube: it has three lumens and two balloons. Aspiration is the most frequent insertion-related consequence.
5. Minnesota Tubes: Compression and pressure limit bleeding in Minnesota tubes, which are used for esophagogastric tamponade therapy. Four lumens and two balloons—gastric and oesophageal balloons—are present.
6. Linton Nachlas Tube: it is used to treat stomach varices that bleed. It contains three lumens and a single (gastric) balloon.  

Types of Catheters 

1. Urethral Catheters: Urinary catheters left in the bladder are known as indwelling catheters. These catheters can be used for a brief period or for an extended time. An indwelling catheter collects urine and connects it to a drainage bag. Urine can be released from the bag by opening a valve.
2. Condom Catheters: Men with incontinence can utilise condom catheters. The penis does not contain a tube. Rather, the penis is covered with a device that resembles a condom. This gadget is connected to a drainage bag via a tube. It is necessary to change the condom catheter daily. The catheter sizes and colours can be different. 
3. Intermittent Catheters: When you don’t want to wear a bag or only need to use a catheter occasionally, you would use an intermittent catheter. You or your caretaker will insert and remove the catheter once the bladder has been drained. You can do this once or multiple times per day.

Types of Drains 

1. JP Drain, or Jackson-Pratt: The JP drain is a long, flexible tube that ends in a collection bulb shaped like a lemon. The tube’s open end inserts itself into your wound while the bulb’s end stays outside of your body. When compressed, the bulb extracts fluid from your wound.
2. Penrose Drain: A Penrose drain is a soft, flexible tube with two open ends. One end penetrates your wound to let liquids soak in, and the other protrudes to allow fluid to drain out of your wound. The drainage is collected by a piece of gauze dressing applied to your skin.
3. Hemovac Drain: it works the same as JP drain. A Hemovac has a collapsible cylindrical container that sucks out fluid when compressed, as opposed to a bulb-shaped collection container. Compared to a JP drain, it may hold more fluid. 

What are the Uses of Tubes, Catheters, and Drains?

Tubes, catheters, and drains function as medical devices that help treat diseases and support treatment and healing. 

Uses of Tubes 

• Medical tubes provide nutritional support to patients who struggle with swallowing or do not receive food feedings through their mouths, so the ryles tube position is set based on patient needs. 
• The delivery of oxygen through tubes occurs directly to the lungs through the mouth or nose, which is why nasogastric tubes are different in size and colour.
• When performing surgery, tubes enable patients to breathe both during operations and in vital medical situations. 
• Gastric tubes include different models that drain the stomach, treat nausea and vomiting, and aid the body in taking medicine.

Uses of Catheters

• Urine drainage through catheters serves three essential functions: extracting bladder content for patients who need urine drainage during urinary retention incontinence or surgical procedures. Different urine catheter sizes are available based on the need.
• Doctors use this type of tube to inject fluids directly into large veins as a necessary treatment for critical care and cancer patients.
• Blood collection procedures require blood pressure monitoring and blood sample extraction, that critical illness patients usually need.
• Dialysis: Used for hemodialysis in patients with kidney failure.

Uses of Draines 

• Drains are used surgically to remove surgical fluids, including blood or pus, which helps healing processes and prevents postoperative infections.
• The medical device is used to drain fluid from the lungs which helps patients with pneumonia along with those suffering from cancer and other lung conditions.
• Physicians use abdominal fluid drainage to extract cavity contents for patients with liver diseases, cancer, and bowel obstruction.
• The procedure of wound draining focuses on eliminating fluids and debris while removing pus from wounds to achieve healing and fight off infection.

Insertion Techniques of Tubes, Catheters, and Drains

The insertion procedures for tubes, catheters, and drains differ based on treatment type and the patient’s medical condition alongside the drainage site. Different approaches exist for inserting tubes and catheters along with drainages, as follows:

• Tubes: Medicine professionals insert these devices through the nostrils to reach the nasopharynx before advancing them into the oesophagus. The Ryles tube insertion procedure can be the same for all tubes.
• Catherates: Medical staff insert catheters by passing them through the urethra toward the bladder. The needle and guidewire can reach the vein while passing through the skin. 
• Drains: A drainage tube is inserted through the skin and guided into the bile duct.

These insertion techniques require proper training, equipment, and patient preparation to ensure safe and effective placement. 

What are the Complications of Tubes, Catheters and Drains?

• The insertion of any tube or catheter with any drainage system may lead to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
• The insertion process, with the removal stage and tube or catheter failures, may produce bleeding.
• The procedure for inserting or removing tubes may lead to impacts on surrounding tissues or organs.
• Tubes, catheters, and drains may become blocked or obstructed, decreasing their effectiveness.
• The effectiveness of tubes, catheters, and drainages decreases when these medical devices become displaced or migrate from their intended position.
• Patients develop allergic responses if they have contact with materials from tubes, catheters, and drainages.
• Nerve damage results from the procedure of inserting or removing tubes and catheters or drainages.
• Patients may develop psychological distress along with anxiety and depression since tubes, catheters, and drainages remain in their bodies.

How to Maintain Tubes, Catheters, and Drainages?

• Clean the surrounding skin area of tubes, catheters, and drainages through washing with soap and water.
• Sterile procedures must be applied by using sterile gloves and equipment when handling all tubes, catheters, and drainages.
• A securement device should be used on tubes, catheters, and drainages to prevent accidental dislodgement.
• Tubes, catheters, and drainage systems should be regularly checked to verify their state of kinking and twisting, which blocks flow.
• Watch for infection-related symptoms, which include redness along with swelling and elevated drainage amounts.

FAQs about Tubes, Catheters, and Drains

1. Are catheters and tubes reusable?

The medical staff usually removes drains after a short usage period. The tube’s reuse depends on the surgeon’s treatment of the same patient. It can not be used again for any other patient.

2. What is the main use of tubes, catheters, and drains?

Surgical drains, tubes, and catheters act as body-tube devices that maintain body fluid drainage by positioning tubes adjacent to recovering surgical wounds. These are commonly used in all hospitals and medical treatments.

3. Do tubes, catheters and drains hurt?

The drain site can experience discomfort. The drain will cause discomfort as it touches areas within your body and the external area that experiences soreness. The drain located behind the liver can produce pain or discomfort, which becomes worse during movements after gallbladder surgery.

4. What side effects can develop after tubes, catheters, and drain removal?

The quick removal of your drain might result in various serious problems, ranging from tissue loss and infection to simple complaints such as fluid buildup and swelling. However, for all patients, this can get better over time.

5. Do tubes, catheters, and drains create any wounds?

The drainage hole remains small before it heals completely within three weeks. Drainage scars generally become invisible in time, although minor scarring might occur.

Conclusion 

Medical tubes, catheters, and drains serve vital functions in delivering patient care. Healthcare professionals need to follow established procedures regarding tube insertion and management of tubes and drainages alongside catheters. Download the DocTutorials application to get access to premium, high-yield content. Students obtain free access to QBank, digital notes, video lectures, and mock exams through the platform, assuring a high rank for top medical exams like NEET PG.