Innoxious removal of suction drains

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Suction drains are frequently used in orthopedic procedures, including elective and trauma surgeries.
• Drain tube removal is often associated with significant patient pain, discomfort, and anxiety.
• Effective strategies to mitigate pain during drain removal are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of local lidocaine injection for pain reduction during suction drain removal.
• To assess patient comfort and anxiety levels following drain removal using this technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving patients undergoing total hip replacement and adolescents undergoing lower extremity surgery.
• Lidocaine (10 mL) was injected subcutaneously around the drain tube before removal.
• Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) in both a study group (lidocaine) and a placebo group.

Main Results:

• The study group experienced significantly lower pain scores during and after drain tube removal compared to the placebo group.
• Lidocaine injection effectively reduced pain perception, leading to a more comfortable experience.
• No adverse events were reported, indicating the safety of the technique.

Conclusions:

• Subcutaneous lidocaine injection is a safe and effective method to reduce pain and anxiety associated with suction drain removal in orthopedic surgery.
• This technique offers a simple, painless, and comfortable solution for drain management post-operatively.
• Implementing this approach can improve patient satisfaction and recovery after orthopedic procedures.