- Call the doctor if the person you provide care for develops a fever (100.5° Fahrenheit or 38.0° Centigrade or higher using oral thermometer), or according to doctor’s guidelines.
- Call the doctor when these changes occur:
- Change in drainage: either a sudden decrease or increase in drainage or drainage stops suddenly
- Bright red drainage
- Increasing redness, swelling, or tenderness at the drain insertion site or the nearby wound
- Presence of a foul odor at the drain insertion site or nearby wound
- Drainage from the drain insertion site or the wound
- The person’s wound appears open or bigger
- The drain falls out
- The drain tubing is leaking
- The vacuum fails to work, in applicable devices. (An air leak can cause vacuum failure)
- If you are unsure of changes in the wound or the drainage, call the doctor or home health nurse. Do not wait until their next scheduled appointment. Your doctor may prescribe an antibioticor he or she may want to see you in the office. If you see early signs of an infection or poor wound healing waiting until your scheduled appointment may make the situation worse. Early intervention can reduce the effect of any complications.
