Your written discharge plan comes first. These instructions must be tailored to your treatment and medical history. For combined procedures, ask the team for one coordinated plan; do not choose between conflicting instructions yourself.
What to expect.
Some operations use a bulb drain to remove fluid. The team should demonstrate the exact device before you leave.
Your care plan.
- Wash your hands before and after handling the drain. Secure the bulb so it cannot dangle or pull on the skin.
- Empty it on the schedule taught to you. Avoid touching the inside of the stopper. Measure and record the amount in milliliters and the color for each drain separately.
- For a Jackson-Pratt bulb, squeeze the bulb and replace the stopper while it is compressed to restore suction. Record separate daily totals and bring the log to visits.
- Only strip or milk tubing if your nurse has taught you to do so for your device. Never cut, flush, reinsert, or remove a drain yourself.
- Follow your incision-site dressing and shower plan. Drain removal depends on your operation and output trend, not a universal day or volume threshold.
Activity & recovery.
- Keep tubing from catching on clothing and avoid soaking the drain site.
When to call.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, collapse, stroke symptoms, or sudden loss of vision need immediate emergency care. Do not wait for an office reply or use an online form.
Contact your care team promptly
- Call for a drain that falls out, will not hold suction, stops draining with increasing swelling, suddenly produces much more blood, or develops foul drainage.
- Cover a dislodged drain site with clean gauze and call; do not reinsert it.
- Report fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, spreading redness, pus, worsening pain, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down. Call sooner if you feel seriously unwell, even without a fever.
- New one-sided calf pain or swelling needs urgent medical assessment. If you also have chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.
Call 615.730.7500. After hours, follow the urgent-contact directions on your discharge paperwork. If you cannot reach the team and symptoms are urgent, seek immediate medical care.
Stay connected.
Keep your scheduled follow-up and ask the team when to send an update or return sooner. Confirm any dressing, stitch, or drain removal with the office. Return to exercise, work, travel, and skin-care products should follow your individual clearance plan.
Before leaving your appointment, make sure you know your next visit date, medication plan, and after-hours contact instructions.
Sources & References
External references open in a new tab. Your care guide will stay open here.
These references provide general information. Follow your care team’s procedure-specific instructions and personal discharge plan.