Question

A patient who had an appendectomy for a perforated appendix returns from surgery with a drain inserted in the incision site. the purpose of the drain is to: _______

Answer 1

The drain inserted post-appendectomy is meant to remove excess fluids from the site to prevent infection and stop fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of inserting a drain in the incision site of a patient who has undergone an appendectomy due to a perforated appendix is twofold:

Firstly, it is used to remove any excess fluid, such as blood or pus, that may accumulate and potentially cause an infection post-surgery.

Secondly, the drain helps prevent fluids from accumulating in the interstitial spaces, which could otherwise lead to complications like abscess formation or impaired wound healing.

While options b and c outline purposes related to gas and nutrient exchange in a generalized biological context, they are not the correct descriptions for the purpose of a surgical drain.