Ideas and Innovations

Syringe suction drain

A. Singh, M. S. Thind, K. S. Mander and G. P. Singh

Depurtrnent cf Plastic ud Reconstnrctke Surger:,!. Gotemrnent Mrdicul Collrge. Rajendru Hospitul, Patialu, India

SUMMARY. A mini suction drain made up of a 20 cc glass syringe, a stainless steel spring and a scalp vein cannula (whose needle end has been cut off and multiple holes made in the distal 2.54 cm) is described. It is very useful in preventing postoperative haematoma formation, in nasogastric tube suction, in easy drawing up of fluids from vials, and in exploration of deep seated abscesses and collections.

It is inexpensive, as syringe and spring can be re-used after sterilisation by autoclaving.

Haematoma formation can be prevented by adequate haemostasis and providing effective drainage. Glove drains and corrugated drains are crude and not very effective methods, provide open drainage and may invite infection. Commercially available vacuum suc- tion drains and DTY mini suction drain (Moss. 1987) have proved to be very effective. We have designed a new. simple, easily sterilised, reusable and inexpensive closed suction drain which has also been found to be

Fig. I

Figure 1-X cc syringe. steel spring and cam& with holes made at the distal end.

effective and can be strapped to the dressing for the convenience of the patient.

Materials and methods

The butterfly of a scalp vein plastic cannula is cut and multiple holes are made in the distal 2.5-5 cm of it with

Fig. 2

Figure 2-Spring put on piston of syringe

cannula is clamped and the syringe 15 detached, emptied by pressing the piston and again attached to the cannula.

For small areas one drain is \utiicicnt: for large1 areas 3 drains or a larger syringe can be uxed.

Other uses include nasogastric tube aspiration. drawing of liquids from vials. and exploration of deep seated abscess or fluid collections using a wide bore needle.

tine scissors (Fig. I). ‘The end with holes is put in the operated ;Irta where blood collection is expected and air-tight closure is carried out.

A 20 cc \yringc is fitted with a stainlesc steel spring whose length is equal to the markings column of the syringe. the piston of which can just pass through the spring. The piston with spring on is put in the barrel of the syringe (Fig. 7). The piston is then pressed fully and the syringe connected to the cannula (Fig. 3). The spring provides a negative pressure. The syringe is \trappeii to the dressing.

When 3) cc of blood collects in the syringe, the