Jackson Pratt drain (JP drain): Care at home

What is a Jackson Pratt drain?

The Jackson Pratt drain (JP drain) is a special tube that prevents blood and fluid from collecting inside the body near the area of your child's surgery. There are two main parts to a JP drain:

• a hollow tube
• a collection bulb

One end of the tube is placed in your child's chest during their surgery. A collection bulb is attached to the other end of the tube outside the body. Fluid from the incision travels down the tube and collects in the bulb.

The Jackson Pratt drain

Caring for the JP drain at home

Before your child goes home from the hospital, a nurse will show you how to:

• empty the bulb
• record the amount of fluid collected

You will need to empty the bulb twice a day, at 9:00 a.m. and at 9:00 p.m.

Supplies you will need

Your child's nurse will send you home with these supplies so you can empty the bulb on your own:

• sterile gauze
• tape
• Vaseline
• 50 mL syringes
• alcohol wipes
• large bandage
• plastic clamp
• measuring container
• extra hypafix (bandages)
• record sheet

Emptying the Jackson Pratt drain

You will need to empty the JP drain and measure the fluid twice a day. If the bulb is filling up fast, you may need to empty it more than twice a day. Follow these steps to empty the drain:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Unclip the bulb from your child's clothing.
3. Open the bulb port.
4. Clean the bulb port with an alcohol wipe.
5. Use a syringe to take the fluid out of the bulb. Put the fluid into the measuring container.
6. Close the bulb port.
7. Measure the fluid.
8. Empty the fluid into the toilet.
9. Clip the bulb onto your child's clothing again.
10. Wash your hands with soap and water.
11. Write the drainage amount on the record sheet.

Dressing care

You will not need to change or remove the dressing at home. If the dressing becomes wet, loose or falls off, call your child's health-care provider.

What to do if the tube comes out or disconnects at home

• If the tube accidentally comes out, put Vaseline on the wound and cover it with a Band-Aid.
• If the bulb falls off, clamp the tube using a plastic clamp. Tape gauze to the end of the tube to keep it clean. Then call your child's health-care provider.
• If your child has problems breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Call your child's health-care provider if you notice any of the following:

• bad-smelling or cloudy drainage
• large increase in amount of drainage
• drain looks plugged or suddenly stops draining
• swelling of your child's hands, feet or face
• your child's temperature is above 38°C (100.4°F)
• a change in colour of your child's skin or lips
• your child sounds congested or has a wet cough

At SickKids

Call the 4D Charge Nurse at 416-813-6901 before 9:00 a.m. every day with drainage amounts from the day before.

A clinic nurse will change your child's dressing once a week when your child comes to the Cardiac Clinic. You will not need to change or remove the dressing while at home. If the dressing becomes wet, loose or falls off, call the 4D Charge Nurse.

If the tube comes out or disconnects at home and your child has problems breathing, call 911 right away or go to the nearest Emergency Department. If your child is OK, call the 4D Charge Nurse.

Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (07/08): http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/jp.pdf