Experimental comparison of abdominal drainage systems

Abstract

Background: In an experimental study the performance of different closed abdominal drainage systems was tested.

Methods: A vacuum bottle designed for Redon Drainage, a flexible plastic bulb designed for Jackson-Pratt drains and a V.A.C.^® Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System were used. In a porcine cadaveric study mimicking the abdominal cavity the intrinsic pressure (IP) at one and three minutes (T0, T3) and the amount of evacuated fluid were measured.

Results: The Redon and Jackson drainage displayed a rapid decline to IP values of almost zero comparing T0 and T3. Only the V.A.C.^® system was able to preserve constant values of negative IP values measured at both time points. Only the V.A.C.^® system was able to remove almost the whole amount of inserted fluid.

Conclusions: In an experimental setting the V.A.C.^® system was superior to the other two tested systems in delivering constant negative IP and the amount of evacuated fluid.

Keywords: Abdominal drainage; Experimental; Jackson; Redon; VAC.