Flushing vs Irrigating.... HELP!!!

Taber's says:

flush: 2. Irrigation of a cavity, or a device such as a feeding tube, with water.

irrigate: To wash out with a fluid.

...I really think it would depend on your policies and procedures.

What kinda drain are you talking about?

Hi,

It's an abdominal drain, that is draining ++ ascites... it's to straight drainage.

So today, I just flushed it with 10 cc NS, and withdrew the fluid back into the syringe.

I'm not sure if I should have left the NS in there, or if in fact, I did the right thing my withdrawing it back out....

See, I thought "FLUSH" means, leave the fluid in there.... and "IRRIGATE" means withdraw it out....

ANY other suggestions or advice would be appreciated :)

I've asked other friends that are nurses, and they're giving me both answers, so I'm looking for the right one!!

Thanks!

I am not a nurse yet, however, do have experience with drains. Had 4 JP drains last summer in my abdomen... fun times!:wink2: So, had to do the care myself at home once I was released from the hospital. I would close the stop cock to unhook the bulb end and drain out the goop from the bulbs, reattach and push in 10 cc of saline. I never had to draw any back out. Not sure if you are dealing with the same kind of drain or not.

I would have irrigated the same way you did: quickly flush with NSS, then quickly withdraw same amount. The one time I had an irrigation order for a drainage tube, the dr actually wrote out the w/draw instructions -- w/emphasis on the "quick" part.

Easiest solution is to call the dr for clarification.