Replacing a Wound Drainage Bag

Wound drains are used to drain fluid from a postoperative client’s surgical wound site. This prevents the fluid from accumulating at the wound site, which interferes with wound healing. Wound drains either drain fluids by using the force of gravity (passive or gravity drains) or they are connected to a system which exerts suction to encourage the fluid to flow into the drainage bag or bottle (vacuum drains). Replacement of the drainage bag most often occurs when the bag is more than half full, or in the event of the bag or bottle losing its suction.