Drainage systems. Their role in wound healing.

In recent years, studies have demonstrated that the risk of wound infection can be reduced by careful wound management and adequate wound drainage. Evidence indicates that if a wound is not allowed to drain freely, blood, body fluids, pus, and necrotic material will collect in the wound, providing a growth medium for microorganisms. Surgical wound drainage is recognized as a key element in facilitating the healing process. Wound drainage systems are designed to allow enough moisture to remain in tissues to promote regeneration and lessen inflammation, while removing excess exudate or material that may hamper the healing process. Regardless of the system selected, it must be able to apply enough negative pressure to maintain surface apposition in the healing wound. This requires careful nursing assessment to ensure constancy of vacuum pressure. As the cost of treating preventable infections increases, infection control is becoming a high priority. Health care workers have therefore become increasingly interested in any product or system that contributes to the prevention of costly surgical wound infections.