Question

A client with an abdominal cholecystectomy returns from surgery with a Jackson-Pratt drain. The chief purpose of the Jackson-Pratt drain is to: A. Prevent the need for dressing changes B. Reduce edema at the incision C. Provide for wound drainage D. Keep the common bile duct open

Short answer

Answer: The primary purpose of a Jackson-Pratt drain in a patient who has undergone an abdominal cholecystectomy is to provide for wound drainage.

Step-by-step solution

Understand abdominal cholecystectomy and Jackson-Pratt drain

An abdominal cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. A Jackson-Pratt drain is a closed-suction medical device that is placed in the wound area to collect fluids (such as blood or pus) and prevent accumulation, promoting healing. Now, let's analyze each answer choice.

Analyze answer choice A

A. Prevent the need for dressing changes: While having a Jackson-Pratt drain can reduce the number of dressing changes, it's not the primary purpose. The main function of the drain is to collect excess fluids and prevent complications like infection.

Analyze answer choice B

B. Reduce edema at the incision: While Jackson-Pratt drain can help minimize swelling due to fluid accumulation, the primary purpose remains fluid collection and prevention of accumulation in the wound area.

Analyze answer choice C

C. Provide for wound drainage: The Jackson-Pratt drain allows for controlled drainage of excessive fluids from the wound area, helping to prevent infection, and reduce complications. This matches the chief purpose of a Jackson-Pratt drain.

Analyze answer choice D

D. Keep the common bile duct open: This answer choice is incorrect, as the common bile duct's patency is not directly related to the role of a Jackson-Pratt drain. The primary purpose of the drain is fluid collection from the wound area.

Choose the correct answer

Based on the analysis of each answer choice, the correct answer is C. Provide for wound drainage, which is the chief purpose of the Jackson-Pratt drain in a patient who has undergone an abdominal cholecystectomy.