title: Technique for high volume drainage beneath large tissue flaps.
abstract: We have found that a chest tube placed beneath large tissue flaps and connected to a standard closed pleural drainage system gives superior results in terms of approximation of tissues and evacuation of the fluid to any available self-contained suction drain. This system makes continuous high volume drainage possible without sacrificing the mobility of the patient or the sterility of the drainage system. Quantifying daily drainage into the closed pleural drainage system is easy for nurses and surgical staff alike. We suggest that this type of drainage system is applicable to a wide variety of reconstructions of the abdominal and chest walls involving extensive soft tissue flaps.
authors: Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Kern
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps