Surgical drainage tube system

Abstract

A multi-lumen drainage tube or catheter body includes a primary drainage lumen and separate auxiliary lumens with obstructed proximal ends wherein the tube may be used a simple, single lumen drainage tube, a two lumen drainage tube or a three lumen drainage tube by removal of one or both of the obstructions from the proximal ends of the auxiliary lumens and connection of the lumen openings at the proximal end of the drainage tube to the corresponding single or multi-lumen adaptor. In the second aspect of the invention, a drainage tube system is provided which may employ the adaptable multi-lumen drainage tube of the first aspect of the invention and wherein the adaptors employed therewith are provided with a mechanism for selectively inserting a flexible, elongated clean-out catheter into and down the length within the main drainage lumen to pass the distal end of the catheter through accumulated matter and to introduce a high suction pressure through the clean-out catheter lumen to evacuate the loosened obstructing matter from the main drainage lumen. The adaptor through which the clean-out catheter is introduced preferably includes a main lumen connector adapted to be connected to the drainage lumen and having two branches extending therefrom. The main branch preferably includes a valve for closing the first branch and a further connector for connection of the main drain lumen to the fluid collection vessel and low pressure pump when the valve is opened. The second branch preferably includes a connector having a fluid seal therein that bears against the exterior surface of the clean-out catheter and through which the clean-out catheter may be advanced and retracted. The clean-out catheter is preferably encased within a flexible, compressible sheath wherein both the sheath and the proximal end of the clean-out catheter are joined at a normally-closed valve and connector body adapted to be connected to a high suction pressure source and collection vessel.