Robe

Critical importance of number and placement of pockets:

The majority of surgical drains create suction to draw the fluid out of the wound.

In order to achieve this, they must be allowed to expand without impedance from the garment or proximity to the body.

• Pocket shape allows for full expansion and supports weight of full drain bulb.
• Pockets also hold extra tubing or wires.
• Pockets avoid the waist area which allows for greater patient motion and mobility.

Three crucial factors considered for optimal location of pockets:

1. Total number of drains
2. Where the drain(s) exit the skin
3. Where the surgical incisions are located on the body

The variety and number of pockets is distinguishing and essential to the design.

• Enough pockets to hold all the drains
• Located relative to where drains emerge from the skin
• Options to avoid pressure to surgical incision(s)

Some examples of the versatility of this design:

After head and neck surgery a patient has drains exiting the neck area and would choose to place the drain in the pocket above the waist on the side of the drain.

After lung surgery a patient has drains exiting the side of the chest wall and a large incision over the chest itself. This patient would be able to place the drain bulb in the pockets below the waist so as not to irritate the surgical incision.

After reconstructive breast surgery using an autologous flap from the abdomen a patient may have drains exiting from the upper chest and the abdominal area. The number, laterality, and location of incisions would dictate that the drains would be most comfortably located in the lower, lateral pockets so as not to interfere with either surgical site, nor interfere with each other.

After a hip replacement a patient has drains exiting the groin region and have incisions over the lateral hip. This patient might choose to place the drain(s) in the lower, medial pockets so as not to interfere with either surgical site, nor interfere with each other.