Does anyone know of any research relating to the removal of redivacs? Some nurses now "de-vac" the drains 20 minutes before removing them - is this practice widespread and evidence-based?
As far as I'm aware de-vacing in advance reduced the amount of bleeding on removal of the drain but in the hospital I worked in it wasn't standard practice. The nurses tended to just devac and remove the drain immediately.
Have you looked in the Royal Marsden Clinical Procedure Manual? I've not my copy to hand but I'll be having a read later - you've got me thinking.