# Drains

Drains

Drains are used to prevent accumulation of  blood and sero sanguineous or purulent fluid. In clean surgery , such as joint replacement, blood collected in drains can be transfused back into the patient provided that an adequate volume is collected rapidly and that a specifically designed drain and filter system is used. the evidence for their benefits has been questioned. Complica - tions of  drains include trauma to surrounding tissues and infec - tion. The quantity and c haracter of  drain fluid can be used to identify an abdominal complication such as fluid leakage (e.g. bile or pancreatic fluid) or bleeding. Drains should be removed as soon as it is considered safe to do so. The timing of drain remo val is related to the volume and nature of  fluid being e vacuated (e.g. a drain may be left lon - ger to evacuate a pancreatic leak, but removed earlier if  only serous fluid is draining) and balanced against the risk of  leaving the drain in place (such as damage to the surrounding tissues). -