Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Open drainage

    Drainage of a wound or body cavity using absorbent materials or catheters that are in contact with the ambient conditions outside the patient.  

  • Manual lymphatic drainage

    Gentle massage techniques used to correct localized lymphedema (e.g., in patients who have swelling of the arm after mastectomy). Superficial massage is used; the direction of applied pressure depends on the treatment area.  

  • Closed sterile drainage

    A sterile tube draining a body site, such as the abdominal cavity or pleural space, that is designed to prevent the entry of air and bacteria into the tubing or the area being drained.  

  • Closed drainage

    Drainage of a wound or body space into a self-contained, sealed collecting system.  

  • Chest drainage

    Placement of a drainage tube in the chest cavity, usually in the pleural space. The tube is used to drain air, fluid, or blood from the pleural space so the compressed and collapsed lung can expand. The tube is connected to a system that produces suction. This helps to remove the material from the pleural…

  • Capillary drainage

    Drainage by means of capillary attraction.  

  • Autogenic drainage

    A diaphragmatic breathing pattern used by patients with respiratory illnesses (e.g., cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis) to clear the lungs of mucus and other secretions. Various techniques are used, all of which combine positive reinforcement of deep breathing and voluntary cough suppression for as long as possible before evacuating the airways of mucus.  

  • Active drainage

    Drainage in which negative pressure is maintained in the tube. It is used in treating pneumothorax and in certain types of drains or catheters in the intestinal tract, body cavity, or surgical wound.  

  • Nonpermeable drain

    A drain made from various synthetics (e.g., silicones) and dynamic devices (e.g., suction catheters). Types include abdominal, antral, perineal, and suprapubic.  

  • Cigarette drain

    A drain made by covering a small strip of gauze with rubber.