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1056.e2 Abdominal Drainage

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ABDOMINAL DRAINAGE Equipment and materials used for abdominal drainage.
A, 0.5-15 mL 2% lidocaine for local anesthesia. B, Alligator forceps. C, Sterile red ABDOMINAL DRAINAGE Sterile red rubber feeding tube with additional holes
rubber feeding tube, 5-16 Fr gauge. D, Suture material (e.g., nylon 2-0) and needle. in its distal part (arrowheads). Tube is grasped in jaws of alligator forceps and
E, #11 sterile scalpel blade. F, Sterile needle holders. passed into abdominal cavity through a small incision on ventral abdominal midline.

• If a rapid flow of fluid occurs, a clamp or • When drainage has ended, the animal is again complete rather than partial drainage during
partially closed 3-way stopcock (usually restrained in lateral recumbency, and the procedure.
requiring a Christmas tree type of adapter nylon ligatures are cut. The tube is removed,
to fit most red rubber feeding tubes) can be taking care not to withdraw omentum. The Alternatives and Their
used for moderating the rate of flow. skin incision may be dried with a sterile Relative Merits
• Complete drainage is possible in minutes gauze, and tissue glue may be applied to Abdominocentesis with needle and syringe:
(often 15-20 minutes) or 2-6 hours. Animal close it. If the incision is > 5 mm, a skin • Less invasive
can be placed in a cage with a grated floor suture or staple may be placed. • Very time-consuming for large volumes (e.g.,
during drainage. 1 L or more)
○ CAUTION: An Elizabethan collar is essen- Postprocedure • Generally unable to remove all ascites
tial in all cases for preventing the animal • Weigh the animal; record weight of lost fluid Abdominocentesis with suction/vacuum:
from chewing at and transecting the tube. (for future reference and to know accurate • Faster
• The system may be closed (tube fitted to lean body weight for medication dosages). • May aspirate omentum or other abdominal
drainage bag) or open; if open, as is done • Dripping of ascitic fluid from incision is structure
most commonly, the animal must be common despite tissue glue and generally • Drainage less complete
monitored for ongoing drainage, and the resolves in minutes to hours. If it is persistent,
tube should be removed immediately when a skin suture or staple may be necessary. AUTHORS: Etienne Côté, DVM, DACVIM;
Leah A. Cohn, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
flow ceases to reduce the risk of ascending • Dripping and any subcutaneous pooling EDITOR: Mark S. Thompson, DVM, DABVP
infection. of ascitic fluid are minimized by allowing

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