Home Care for Your

Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt®

Wound Drainage System
Purpose:
Hemovac ® and Jackson Pratt ® (JP) are the brand names for two types of self-
contained suction systems. The purpose of this type of device is to promote
healing by draining fluid from the wound. This prevents swelling and pooling of
blood and fluid. The drainage tube is threaded through the skin into the wound
near the surgical incision and is held in place by stitches.
You will need to change the dressing around the tube once a day and empty the
collection container twice a day. When the amount of drainage emptied from the
collection container is less than 30 – 40 ml over 24 hours, the drainage system
will be removed.
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How to take care of your Hemovac ® or Jackson Pratt ®

drainage system:
Your drainage collection container should be emptied once in the morning and
again in the evening. If your container is heavy with a lot of fluid, you may empty
it in the afternoon. You will need to do a dressing change each day.

Supplies
C For emptying a Hemovac or Jackson Pratt:
< Measuring cup
< Drainage record
C For a dressing change:
< Povidone-iodine swabstick
< Gauze square (split 4”x4”) dressings (package of 2)
< Tape

How to empty your Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt® collection

container:
Do this twice each day:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Have available a measuring cup and the drainage record sheet on the last page
of this handout.
3. Loosen the safety pins or clip that holds the drainage system to your clothing.
4. Open the plug on the Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt®.
5. Turn the drainage collection container upside down over the measuring cup to
empty the drainage. You may need to turn the Hemovac® upside down
several times to empty all of it. If you have a Jackson Pratt®, gently squeeze
the bulb to empty it.
6. Put the drainage container on a sink or table. Press down on the container
until it is flat. All of the air needs to be completely out of the container or it
will not work properly. Without letting go of the Hemovac® or Jackson
Pratt®, replace the plug.
7. Look on the side of the cup to measure the amount of drainage. Check the
drainage for color and smell. If you notice a foul odor similar to rotten eggs,
call your doctor or nurse. Empty the drainage in the toilet.
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8. Write the date and time, amount, and color of drainage on the drainage record
sheet. If you have more than one drain in place, mark them as drainage “A” or
“B”.
9. Pin the drainage container to your clothing lower than the place where the tube
comes out of your body. If you have a cloth holder, place the container in it
and attach it to your bra.
10. Wash your hands with soap and water.

How to do a dressing change:

Do this once a day:
1. Gather all supplies.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
3. Loosen the tape and remove the old dressing from around the Hemovac® or
Jackson Pratt®. Look at the dressing for any unusual or foul smelling
drainage. Put the old dressing in a plastic bag and throw it away into a
wastebasket.
4. Look for any redness or unusual or foul smelling drainage
where the tube leaves your body. Call your doctor or
nurse if you have redness at the site or drainage.
5. Use the Povidine-iodine swabstick to clean around the
tube. Lift the catheter and begin cleaning where the tube
comes out of your skin. Use a circular motion around the
tube and clean the skin from the tube to 3 to 4 inches
away from the exit site. Do not clean back toward the
tube. Let the area dry. If you have two tubes, get a new
iodine stick and clean the other tube as above.

6. Tear off the amount of tape needed to cover the dressing.

7. Remove one of the 4 x 4 split gauze square

dressing from the package. Touch only the
edges of the dressing. Put the gauze around
the drainage tube(s) as in this picture.
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8. Use a second split gauze dressing placed

over the first one to cover the tube.

9. Tape the gauze in place. Use 3

pieces of tape as shown in the
pictures. Be certain that the drainage
tube is secured well to the dressing to
prevent it from moving. The
dressing change is now complete.
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Stripping or Milking Your Hemovac® or Jackson® Pratt Drain:

At times your Hemovac ® or Jackson Pratt ® drain may need to have clots cleared
from the tubing so that it drains correctly. Stripping is also important to keep
clots from sticking and drying inside of the tube. You may try to clear these clots
yourself or someone with you may clear these clots after your nurse has shown
you how to do this. This action is called “stripping” or “milking” the drain.
Your drain needs cleared of clots if:
C You can see a clot in the tubing that is keeping the fluid from draining out. It
is normal to have clots in the tube, it is only a problem if they obstruct the
flow of fluid.
C You have fluid leaking from around the tube where it goes into your skin.
C You have a spongy or slushy feeling area around where the tubing goes into
your skin.
C You have a sudden drop in the amount of drainage.
How to “strip” or “milk” your drain tubing:
C First Method
1. Start at the top of the drain tubing (near where it leaves the skin) and pinch
and roll the tubing between your thumb and first finger.
2. Repeat Step 1 all the way down the tubing until you reach the drainage
container.
3. Repeat as needed.
C Second Method
1. Anchor the top of the drain tubing (near where it leaves the skin) with one
hand so that it does not pull on the skin.
2. Firmly pinch the tubing with your other hand using your thumb and first
finger.
3. Slowly, but firmly, pull your thumb and first finger down the tubing.
4. You may stop and start as you move the clot through the tubing into the
drain.
5. STOP if you are pulling on the tubing so that it hurts. Do not pull on the
tubing so hard that it comes out of the skin.
6. As you strip the tubing, you may not see the clot completely move down
the tube. Stripping is also important to keep clots from sticking and drying
inside of the tube.
7. Repeat as needed.
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If, after 4-6 hours, neither of these methods clears the clots out of your tubing,
please call one of your health care professionals. Professionals you could contact:
C Your home health nurse (if you have one)
C Your nurse practitioner
C Your doctor’s office
C Your Patient Care Resource Manager (PCRM)

Call your health care professional if you have any of these

symptoms:
C A sudden increase or decrease in the amount of drainage (greater than 30-40
ml’s).
C A change in the smell of the drainage, especially if a “rotten egg” smell is
noticed.
C Redness or unusual drainage around the tube (greater than the size of a dime).
C No drainage from the Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt® or there is fluid leaking
from around the tube. This may mean there is a clot in the tubing.
C Swelling around the tube or incision.
C The Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt® container will not stay pressed together
after you have emptied it, there may be an air leak in drain.
C Fever of more than 101 degrees F.
C The drain tube pulls out of your skin.
C New or increased pain where the tube exits the skin.

See Page 7 for Drainage Record Sheet

If you would like more written information, please call the Library for Health Information
at (614)293-3707. You can also make the request by e-mail: health-info@osu.edu.

© Copyright, (1/2006)
Division of Nursing - James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute
The Ohio State University Medical Center
< Upon request all patient education handouts are available in other formats for people with special
hearing, vision and language needs, call (614) 293-3191.
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Hemovac® or Jackson Pratt® Drainage Record Sheet

Day of Amount of Drainage
Color Smell Temperature
Week AM PM