subdural drain...what to do?

[APNgonnabe]

I am a new grad in a critical residency (we orient ect. for 6months in Neuro/Burn & Cardiac Icu)...so with that said. I had a pt with subdural hematoma. I did find that it is common to put a subdural drain in however I was unable to find what is best practice to care for that drain. The drain stopped putting out (it was draining about 10ml/hr). We received order to irrigate w/ 5-10ml q1hr. Any insight is welcomed.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Per policy, when I was an ICU nurse, we never irrigated without a real good reason. Some of the new drains have one way stop cocks... only out, nothing in.

[Tess597]

Heard of irrigating but usually it is the doc's responsibility r/t liability.