What is the purpose of drains in postoperative care?

The primary purpose of drains in postoperative care is to remove excess fluid or blood from the surgical site. After surgery, the body may produce extra fluids or bleed as part of the healing process, which can create pressure or increase the risk of infection at the incision site. Drains, such as Jackson-Pratt or Hemovac, help facilitate the removal of these fluids, preventing them from accumulating and thereby promoting healing and preventing complications.

Effective drainage can help maintain clearer surgical sites, promote better healing outcomes, and allow for closer monitoring of how the surgical site is responding after the operation. In contrast, while medications can be administered via certain devices, monitoring vital signs is done with different tools and enhancing comfort may be an outcome of various care strategies, these do not encompass the primary function of drains.