Persistent fever, rising pain or a failure to progress after pancreatic or colorectal surgery should prompt a look at the drain output, its colour and the fluid, as well as bloods and imaging. A changed character of drain fluid is often the first sign of a leak.
- Note volume and appearance of drain output at each round.
- Send fluid for amylase when a pancreatic leak is possible.
- Do not remove a drain just because the volume is low if the fluid is abnormal.
- Escalate imaging early when the clinical picture and drain disagree.
Why it matters
Postoperative decline is easily labelled ileus or infection before the drain is examined.
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