Improving the efficiency of wound drainage catheters.

We have modified the most commonly utilized wound drainage system to further reduce the incidence of postoperative accumulation of fluid under the skin flaps. This modification allows more efficient removal of debris, loose tissue fragments, and clots from the wound catheters and insures a constant negative pressure in the system. These maneuvers lengthen the usefulness and improve the efficiency of the catheters and have reduced the incidence of fluid accumulation.