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East and Central African Journal of Surgery
Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
ISSN: 1024-297X EISSN: 1024-297X
Vol. 19, No. 1, 2014, pp. 67-72
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Bioline Code: js14012
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2014, pp. 67-72
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The Simple Urine Bag as Wound Drain Post-Craniotomy in a Low-resource Neurosurgical Practice: A Personal 4-year Prospective Cohort Study
Adeleye, A.O. & Ukachukwu, A.K.
Abstract
Background: In the face of the practical non-availability of custom-made surgical wound drain
materials, many other substitutes are used in developing countries. These substitutes have their
draw backs from which the Uribag appears to be free. The main objectives: To present our
experience with the use of this cheap and readily-available material as post craniotomy wound
drain in a Nigerian neurosurgical unit
Methods: A 4-year prospective cohort study of the effectiveness, outcome with use and
complications of the Uribag as post craniotomy wound drain in a consecutive cohort of
neurosurgical patients. Data analyzed include the patients’ brief demographics; the types of cranial
surgery in which drain was used; the drain performance, and any associated untoward drain /
wound events.
Results: The drain was used for this purpose in 107 patients over 4 years. Nineteen have been
excluded from this analysis because they died too soon post op for drain performance to be
measured. The 88 patients analyzed included 60 males (68%); age range 11 days to 75 years.
Cranial surgery was for trauma in 42% and for brain tumour resection and other cranial
procedures in the rest. The drain output ranged from 40mls to 960mls and was in place for an
average of 3 days. There was 1 episode (1.1%) of drain dislodgement; 3 of drain blockage (3.4%)
and 5 cases (5.7%) of wound complication post drain removal. All wounds healed with primary
intention otherwise.
Conclusions: The Uribag is an effective, very cheap, and complication-free, closed tube wound
drain substitute for cranial surgery.
Keywords
postsurgical wound drain substitute; developing country; craniotomy; neurosurgery; Uribag
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© Copyright 2014 - East and Central African Journal of Surgery
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