Sometimes the Jackson Pratt drain is just too big for a smaller patient and a smaller wound. In these cases; I use a butterfly needle of even IV tubing and a needle along with a Vacutainer tube.
Watch the video to see exactly how to use these items and make a drain. It is so easy and you will have all the necessary items in your hospital. Remember to carefully fenestrate the tubing. It is important to change the Vacutainer on a daily basis; even if there is very little fluid in it as the Vacutainer may loose its suction abilities and you would not know it (unlike the Jackson Pratt’s grenade).
I always secure this drain in place with the Finger trap technique which is demonstrated in the video also.
