Create a device that will alleviate the pain that is experienced from the attachment of surgical drains.

Project Overview

Surgical drains are used to keep certain fluids and air from accumulating in a dead space that is created during surgery [1]. These are attached to patients using sutures which are stitches that attach and hold the tube in the patient's skin [1]. However, these sutures cause pain and discomfort due to tension at the suturing site [2][3]. The created device will address this problem by reducing the amount of tension produced at the suturing site. This problem will be addressed with two approaches. One approach will be to develop a device that improves the attachment of the surgical drains to the skin. The other approach will be to create a housing for the drain tubing and bulb. As a result, the patient will have a much more comfortable and painless experience with the surgical drains.

[1] R. Durai and P. C. H. Ng, “Surgical vacuum drains: types, uses, and complications,” AORN J., vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 266–71; quiz 272–4, 2010.

[2] D. W.-Y. Li, “Dr. Li's guide to getting drains after surgery,” Surgical Seecrets, 07-Oct-2020. Available: https://surgicalseecrets.com/blogs/articles/guide-to-getting-drains-after-surgery.

[3] L. U. M. Corion, M. J. C. Smeulders, P. P. M. van Zuijlen, and C. M. A. M. van der Horst, “Draining after breast reduction: a randomised controlled inter-patient study,” J. Plast. Reconstr. Aesthet. Surg., vol. 62, no. 7, pp. 865–868, 2009.

Team Picture

Files

• Final Notebook (May 3, 2023)
• Final Report (May 3, 2023)
• Final Poster Presentation (April 27, 2023)
• Executive Summary (April 17, 2023)
• Preliminary Report (March 1, 2023)
• PDS (February 10, 2023)
• Preliminary Presentation (February 10, 2023)

Contact Information

Team Members

• Dana Stumpfoll - Team Leader
• Oscar Zarneke - Communicator
• Lauren Heller - BSAC
• Abdoulahi Bah - BWIG
• Rebekah Makonnen - BPAG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Tracy Jane Puccinelli - Advisor
• Dr. Katie Kalscheur - Client

Related Projects

• Spring 2023: Improved method of securing surgical drains
• Fall 2022: Improved method of securing surgical drains