Question:
Do all surgeons use stomach drains? (through the abdominal wall)
The literature from my surgeon - to - be talks about an abdominal drain. I haven't read about anyone else having one and/or whether or not they were uncomfortable, painful, etc... I would appreciate any info. Thanks — Beverley P. (posted on June 22, 1999)
June 22, 1999
Bev ... Yes, my doctor used an abdominal drain, it was put in during
surgery and was kept for about two weeks after. Its really not a big deal.
When I came home from the hospital I had about a 3" long tube that
had a type of washer at the end that fit snuggly against my body. It had
this balloon type end inside of me, so it was secure. I kept it clean, and
put a square of gauze between my skin and the washer to keep it from
irritating me. When the doctor removed it, it hurt for about three
minutes, it was a burning sensation and thats because the acid from my
stomach got on the open wound that the tube went through. Trust me, its
no biggie.
Good Luck
M
— Mary Anne M.
June 22, 1999
There are two abdominal drains that my surgeon used. One is called a
Jackson Pratt drain that is put in on the right side of your incision (in
open RNY). This is to drain the serosanguinous fluid from the abdominal
cavity. This has a little bag at the end that looks like a hand grenade
toy. The bulb is squeezed and this applies a slight suction to the
abdominal cavity pulling all the extra fluid out of the abdomen. This is
usually removed before you leave the hospital. My doctor used the new flat
tube that looks like a flat soaker hose, but smaller. Unfortunately it
hurts when it is removed. But only for about a minute. The second tube is
a Jejunostomy tube. It goes from inside your jejunum to the outside and is
connected to a drainage bag. This is to drain the excess bile that you are
secreting. It will take about two weeks for your liver to realize you
aren't eating much, so you don't need the bile. That tube comes out in
about 14 days from the date of surgery. That tube is painless to remove,
although I did have a constant bile leak from the drain when it was in and
the skin around the exit site was inflamed for the entire time I had the
tube, and for approximately 7 days following the removal of the tube. No
big deal, just minor discomfort. Nothing really when you compare it to the
misery of obesity.
— Deborah L.
June 22, 1999
Hi Bev! Yes, I had a drain also. I had open RNY on May 26th. I had a
drain until the 29th - the day I went home. It was a tube with a small
clear bulb on the end that collected fluids that were draining from the no
longer used portion of my stomach. When it was time to remove it I asked
the nurse was it going to hurt - I am a WIMP when it comes to pain! She
said no, but many people say it's a weird sensation or feeling and she was
right. NO pain what so ever but it really felt strange when she pulled it
out! Best wishes, feel free to email me if you have any other questions!
Lynn
— Lynn D.
June 22, 1999
Most medical professionals will tell you that since the use of abdominal
drains for recovery from surgeries the incidence of infection has been
improved greatly. My surgeon used 3 drain tubes following my RNy. One to
drain where they took out my gallbladder (routine) one to drain my
"old" stomach and one to drain my "new" stomach. I had
to go home with the one draining my old stomach and had it removed 5 weeks
later. My surgeon (at Mayo) told me that they discovered if they took it
out too soon it did not allow the hole left in the old stomach to heal
properly. Drain tubes are a pain, but they are a important part of proper
care, in fact I worry about the post ops that tell me they never had a
drain tube!
— JAN C.
June 23, 1999
My surgeon put in a temporary drain beneath the incision line (right above
the belly button). It was removed before I left the hospital. It allowed
the tissue around the incision to drain and heal better and allows the
staff to monitor you for possible infection. Also the drain will show any
bleeding or other substance that could cause trouble. The drain was not
uncomfortable (a little cumbersome when I was trying to rush to the john
LOL) and not at all painful (not even when it was removed. Anything that
helped the incision heal (and keep the scar smaller) was fine by me.
Good luck
Susan
[email protected]
— Susan C.
June 24, 1999
You are probably referring to the "gastrostomy" tube which
some surgeons uniformly use on all RNY cases. This is
your surgeons's preference. We do not routinely use such
a drain at the Cleveland Center for Bariatric surgery, nor
do we use a nasogastric tube (tube through your nose).
In well over 350 cases, we have not used these tubes routinely
withoug an adverse outcome related to not using them.
We would consider using them and have done so whenever
the surgery is complicated by previous surgery (adhesions)
or if there are other reasons to worry about your bypassed
stomach. It is very helpful to have it when you need it, but
in the routine uncomplicated case, it is rarely necessary.
— Helmut S.
June 27, 1999
I did not have a stomach drain. I know most don't but some do with the rny
because it is more invasive. I personally did not have one.
— Donna D.
August 20, 2001
I am 12 days post-op and still have three drainage tubes. They are the most
annoying part of this entire ordeal for me, as one is infected and
extremely painful. I have heard that removal hurts, and I have heard that
removal does not hurt. All I know is, I want removal! It makes dressing
difficult, and the binder really bothers my tubes. I know they're
necessary, especially in difficult surgical situations like mine, but they
aren't fun!
— Cris C.
August 20, 2001
I had one drain, a jackson pratt (it looked like a plastic ball, filled
with fluid) in the middle of my stomach, that was removed a week after the
surgery. It was not painful to have removed, in fact I was tired of
lugging it around!
I had a lap RNY.
— Bonnie D.
August 20, 2001
My surgeons (Dr. Jossart and Dr. Rabkin) did not use any drains or the NG
tube with my lap DS. -Kate-
— kateseidel
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