A Jackson-Pratt drain (or JP drain) is made of a thin rubber tube inserted into a soft, round squeeze bulb with a removable stopper. It is used to remove fluid that can collect inside your body after surgery, infection, or injury.
Fluid that collects inside the body can increase the chance of infection or other complications. The JP drain is placed routinely after some kinds of surgery if large amounts of drainage are expected. Also, a JP drain is often used to drain an abscess in the abdomen.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a JP drain inserted, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Leading up to the procedure:
General anesthesia will be used. It will block any pain and keep you asleep through the surgery.
Once you are under anesthesia, your doctor will make an incision in your skin. The end of the drain tubing will be placed into the area where fluid has collected. The other end of the tubing will be connected to the squeeze bulb outside of your body. The doctor will remove the stopper from the bulb, squeeze it to create suction inside the drain system, and replace the stopper. This suction will pull the unwanted fluid out of your body. The doctor will then close the skin over the drain.
If you are having surgery, this JP drain will be inserted at the end of the operation.
If you are staying in the hospital, the nurses will care for and empty your drain.
15-20 minutes to place the JP drain
You may have mild to moderate pain where the JP drain is placed. Ask your doctor about medicine to help with the pain.
This procedure is done in a hospital setting. The length of stay depends on the type of surgery you are having. You may be able to go home the same day if the surgery is minor.
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
Removal of a drain depends on how fast you heal from the surgery or injury. Your doctor may remove the drain when there is less than 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 milliliters) of fluid per day being drained. If you have more than one drain, they may not be removed at the same time.
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm
National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Healthy U
http://www.healthyalberta.com/
References:
Care of the JP drain. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center website. Available at: http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/JPDrain.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2008.
Caring for your Jackson Pratt drainage system. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website. Available at: http://www.mskcc.org/patient_education/shared/graphics/patienteducation/Patient_Education_Publications/Self-Care/CaringForYourJacksonPrattDrainageSystem.pdf. Updated 2004. Accessed September 9, 2009.
Hughes S, Ozgur B, German M, Taylor W. Prolonged Jackson-Pratt drainage in the management of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Surg Neurol. 2006;65:410-414.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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