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Keywords

orthopedic surgeries, discharge, surgical infections, cost, outcome

Disciplines

Nursing

Description

As orthopedic surgeries in the United States are projected to dramatically increase over the next 10 years (Bohl, D. et. al., 2017), Unexpected delays in discharge and surgical infections in orthopedic surgery can have adverse effects. It can negatively impact costs and patient outcomes. Prevention of the infections and delays in discharge that is considered nursing related is a priority.

The output from surgical drains often guides management as drains are commonly not removed until the wound bed drains less than 50 milliliters a day. Failure to have documented drainage output over a 24 hour period often leads to drains that could be safely removed staying in-situ for a further day. This could result in increasing risk for infection and unnecessary pain. Research has shown that prolonged surgical drains indwelling times increases the risk for surgical site infection (Pennington, Z.et. al.,2019).

Publication Date

5-6-2024

Comments

Nurses Week at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, May 6-12, 2024.

Improving the recording of surgical drain output

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