Innoxious removal of suction drains.

Suction drains are commonly used in orthopedic elective and trauma surgery; however, drain tube removal causes pain, discomfort, and anxiety. A method of drain tube removal is described in patients who underwent total hip replacement and in adolescents who underwent lower extremity surgery. Ten milliliters of lidocaine was injected through the skin wound around the drain tube. The efficiency of this practice was evaluated using a visual analog scale score in two patient groups. Pain during tube removal and pain on post-removal were significantly decreased in the study group compared to the placebo group. Using this technique drain tube removal was painless, comfortable, and safe.