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Maintenance of your Jackson-Pratt drain)

Maintenance of your Jackson-Pratt drain)

Maintenance of your Jackson-Pratt drain

The Jackson-Pratt drain is connected to a container that resembles a grenade called a bulb. This container holds liquid that drains from the incision and helps with healing. Click here to view the maintenance sheet. At first, the liquid may be tinged with blood. After a few days, there will be less liquid, and the color of the liquid will become yellowish.

How to empty your drain

  • Wash your hands before touching the drain.
  • Open the cap. The bulb will regain its shape. The Jackson-Pratt drain bulb is similar to a measuring cup.
  • Note this quantity in your Jackson-Pratt drain Journal.
  • Squeeze the bulb to empty the contents into the toilet.
  • Close the cap while keeping the bulb squeezed.
  • Release the bulb; it will slowly fill with liquid again.

Additional Information - Treatment options

Sources and references
Last medical and editorial review: April 2024. See our web page validation committee and our collaborators by clicking here.