Factors affecting the safety of drains and catheters in surgical patients

Drains and catheters are used for both prophylactic and therapeutic reasons in clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect safety of drains, catheters, nasogastric tube and central venous line in patients who underwent surgery.

Two hundred and four consecutive patients who were operated at the general surgery clinics under general anesthesia were included in the study. Factors that affect the safety of drains and catheter were followed and recorded prospectively.

During follow-up period, 12 (5.8%) patients have experienced problems regarding safety of drains/catheters. The mean age of patients who were followed-up in terms of security problems was 63.1 (39-86) years. Eight (66.7%) patients had been operated emergently, and four (33.3%) patients electively. Three (25%) patients had psychiatric/neurological co-morbidities and 3 (25%) patients were confused due to anesthesia/intensive care unit treatment when the drain safety was broken. Eight (66.7%) patients withdrew the drains or catheters by themselves, in 2 (16.7%) patients the drains spontaneously came out and in 2 (16.7%) patients the wrong drain was withdrawn. One patient had dementia, one patient had Alzheimer's disease and one patient was being followed-up with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In three (25%) patients the abdominal drain, in four (33.3%) patients nasogastric tube, in one (8.3%) patient intubation tube, in one (8.3%) patient central venous catheter, and in three (25%) patients multiple drains were removed.

The inaccurate use of drains or re-intervention for an unintentionally removed drain causes problems regarding patient safety. Close monitoring of surgical patients in terms of security, and submission of additional measures for patients with confusion and neurological/psychiatric disorders are of great importance.