Question:
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT A JP DRAIN & NG TUBE IS AND WILL I HAVE TO HAVE IT

   — KIM W. (posted on September 2, 2003)

September 2, 2003
I didnt have any drains or staples (lap rny) and if I had an ng tube (a nasal gastric tube) it was out before I woke up:)
   — kathy B.

September 2, 2003
The JG Drain is a small tiny drainage line that is inserted in your abdomen at the time of surgery and is not removed until you are released. I had the lap RNY and I'm sure that everyone gets the drainage tube. The NG tube is not used by my doctor for the lap proceedure. This is the tube that does down your nasal passage and I have read a lot about it being used for the people that had the "open" surgery (not lap). I just had the tube down my throat and it was inserted and removed while I was asleep. I have no memory of it at all.
   — margaret M.

September 2, 2003
Most surgeries of this type require some type of drain. I had a "JP" tube/drain. All RNY Lap patients at my Dr's office get one. Some people had it for a few days post op, some for longer. It depended on how much drainage you had. The average in our group was 7 days. It is important because if there is a leak, the tube and suction ball has a good chance of picking it up. It also detects excessive bleeding in the surgical pouch area and infections. You need to ask your doc if you will have to have it, it is up to him/her. As for NG rube, for Lap RNY I did not have it. I was intubated (throat) after I slept and the intubation tube was gone before I woke up.
   — M B.

September 2, 2003
I had lap RNY and did have the NG tube. I was told the NG tube was to help my new pouch heal by keeping it closed and not allowing anything in it. My NG tube was inserted while I was out and it was removed about 36 hours after surgery or so. (Its possible it could have come out sooner, but due to a dumb nurse, I was sent down to ICU the 1st night after surgery.)
   — Wendy D P.

September 2, 2003
Like Kathy, I had lap RNY and my NG was out before I went to the recovery room, and I did not have any drains.
   — koogy

September 2, 2003
Wanted to add, if you're afraid of the intubation, dont be. I started to freak a little bit in holding right before surgery when the anesthesiologist came in and said I have a short airway..blah, blah, blah and he wanted to do an 'awake look'. He explained that it meant I would be scoped and tubed while I was twilighty. Man...if I hadn't been sedated I probably would have jumped up off the gurney:) Anyway, I have a REALLy sensitive gag reflex, and mentioned that to the anes. guy. He sprayed this horridly nasty aerosol on my gozzle thingy (uvula) you know the hang-y thing at the back of your throat. After 3 sprays, he touched the dangly thing with a tongue depressor and i didnt even know he had anything in my mouth. So it worked. And I dont remember anything after that, til I got to my room, really. So dont stress over things you wont even remember. Thank heaven for amnesia caused by the good drugs!
   — kathy B.