A soft tube that is placed in an operative site to drain blood and inflammatory fluid following surgery. The tube is connected to a compressed, small plastic bulb. The compression creates suction; the bulb expands as it fills. The collected liquid is emptied and measured when the bulb is about 60% filled, and the bulb is recompressed. The drains are removed when only minimal drainage is observed. Fluid in a surgical wound interferes with healing, can place pressure on suture sites, and increases the risk of infection.