Question

A nurse is planning care for a client who is postoperative following a laparotomy and has a close-suction drain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to manage the drain?

Empty the drain reservoir every 8 hours.
Compress the drain reservoir after emptying.
Clamp the drain for 1 hour before and after ambulation.
Irrigate the drain with sterile saline every 4 hours.

Answer 1

To manage the close-suction drain after laparotomy, the nurse should empty the drain reservoir every 8 hours, compress the drain reservoir after emptying, and avoid clamping the drain before and after ambulation. Irrigating the drain with saline is not recommended.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should empty the drain reservoir every 8 hours to prevent overflow and maintain accurate measurement of output. By doing so, the nurse can identify any changes in the amount and appearance of drainage, which may indicate a potential complication.

Compressing the drain reservoir after emptying can help maintain suction and prevent air from entering the drain system. This is important for effective drainage.

Clamping the drain for 1 hour before and after ambulation is not necessary as it can lead to accumulation of fluid in the surgical site, increasing the risk of infection.

Irrigating the drain with sterile saline every 4 hours is not typically done as it can disrupt the healing of the surgical incision and increase the risk of infection.