Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Postoperative bleeding linked to suction drains in two dogs
By Lynch, A M et al.Ā·Published in The Journal of small animal practiceĀ·2011Ā·Dick White Referrals, United KingdomĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Postoperative haemorrhage associated with active suction drains in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs experienced bleeding after surgery when active suction drains were used to help manage the surgical site. Both dogs showed signs of low blood volume and required fluid treatment, and stopping the drainage temporarily helped resolve their symptoms. While the exact cause of the bleeding wasn't determined, the findings suggest that using low-pressure drainage systems and being careful around blood vessels may help prevent this issue in the future. Thankfully, both dogs recovered after the appropriate treatment.
People also search for: dog surgery bleeding Ā· postoperative care for dogs Ā· dog fluid resuscitation after surgery
Abstract
This article describes two dogs in which an active suction drain was placed to manage dead space at the surgical site and acute haemorrhage and hypovolaemia occurred postoperatively. In both instances, fluid resuscitation and temporary discontinuation of drainage resulted in resolution of clinical signs. Although the underlying cause of haemorrhage was not definitively identified, the use of low-pressure drainage systems and avoidance of interference with local blood vessels should be considered. This is a previously undocumented complication of active suction drain use in veterinary patients.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21294734/