An effective aspiration method of purulent abdominal fluid for preventing abdominal sepsis

Uncontrolled abdominal abscess after major trauma or surgery easily makes a patient septic condition. It is important but difficult to aspirate mucinous purulent abdominal fluid effectively and to keep the abscess cavity dry for prevention of abdominal sepsis. Formerly, we use double luminal tube, which we use usually as nasogastric tube with low negative pressure. However we could not keep the condition of the infectious space dry by this technique.

Materials and methods

Patients with abdominal infection or abscess after major trauma or major surgery were examined. We used an overcoated double luminal drain. The tube consisted of an outer big with many side pores containing an inner small drain and the tip of the inner drain was kept its site never extended the tip of the outer drain. We aspirate this overcoated drain with maximum negative high pressure of central aspirating system. Mucinous infectious fluid was aspirated with air. We evaluate the clinical course of the patients, condition of the infectious space, volume of aspirate, the number of dressing change.

Results and discussion

Fourteen patients were examined. We could (1) keep infectious spaces, (2) keep the skin around infectious space intact resulting in good and rapid healing, (3) exactly evaluate the volume of aspirated fluid, that made it easy to evaluate the healing course, (4) save the number of dressing change resulting in saving the cost.

Conclusions

Overcoated double luminal drainage is useful for aspirating mucinous infectious fluid effectively, for keeping the infectious space dry, for reducing the infectious space, and consequently for preventing abdominal sepsis.