Introducing BulbPendant for Drain Management During Breast Surgery

The perfect solution for the management of Jackson Pratt bulb drains.

From the HandandHand Medical website

Successful recovery depends on the ability to heal without worry. But as physicians, patients and caregivers know, bulb drains are incredibly stressful. After surgery, the bulbs are loose, and patients do not know what to do with them. Drains can also become dislodged, requiring another procedure to replace them. BulbPendant for drain management during breast reconstruction not only solves these problems it relieves patients of the stress of dealing with bulb drains. Eliminating learning curves is a huge advantage.

They (BP) are simple, so intuitive, it’s self-explanatory fitting 99% of all patients.

The patient simply bows their head, keeping their elbows down at their sides while the neoprene band slides over their shoulders. The drain bulbs insert into the mesh pedant and easily clip into place, 30 seconds and you are done. BP is designed to be worn without removal during entire drain usage.

Reality, the Real World

From talking with many surgeons, caregivers and patients, the following are the top four issues concerning reconstructive breast surgery, other than pain, when arriving home.

Showering After Breast Surgery  

• • The first thing most patients want when returning home is to wash the “hospital” off.
• • These patients are usually in pain, cannot raise their arms, exhausted and worried about everything.
• • With the hands-free benefit of BulbPendant for drain management design, walking in and out of the shower becomes easier and more manageable.
• • BP eliminates all the nonsense and hassles created by other products. A couple examples (from websites/instructions) such as changing into and out of a second device meant to be used for showering, one hand should be used to hold the bulbs while showering, removing safety pins then attaching safety pins again and again, someone to help you shower and more hassles.

Sleeping and Bulb Leakage

• • With BP the patient now has their choice of sleeping positions in their own bed and wearing their own pajamas during entire length of drain use.
• • Most other product instructions suggest sleeping in a recliner chair to prevent rolling over onto the bulb initiating bulb leakage and possible dislodging of the surgical drain.
• • Patients have had bad experiences while sleeping. Rolling over onto the bulb while sleeping can create bulb draining or leakage and the mess it creates. It may cause the lack of bulb aspiration of wound fluids. BP solves these problems. 

Self-Confidence and Comfort With Clothing After Breast Surgery with the BulbPendant for Drain Management

• • The BP is easily concealed while worn underneath the patient’s personal clothing without using safety pins.
• • BP May be worn in the side position or front positions.
• • Patients now have hands free use and more importantly, no hassles and no safety pins!

Elimination of Hassles, Instruction, and New Procedures to Learn

• • BP helps reduce patient pain, inflammation, and infections due to accidental tugging or pulling on drain or bulb sites.
• • BP is specially designed to be safely worn while showering. The comfort band and pendant will not hold or carry water thus eliminating skin issues.
• • Using the BP while walking in and out of the shower is quite easy, simple and hands free for safety.
• • BulbPendant for drain management eliminates the hassles of learning how to shower.
• • BP eliminates learning the necessary steps for showering and the trial and error of using potentially risky items such as homemade type lanyards or cords.
• • BP creates choices of comfortable sleeping positions in their own bed during drain use.
• • The BP can be worn in the sash position when leads, drain tubing, etc., are in the way.
• • BP is water repellent, little or no moisture touches skin reducing moisture problems.
• • BP’s flexible water repellent Neoprene Comfort Band is one inch wide for comfort with multiple colors and lengths to fit the patient’s body
• • Simple to clean the Comfort Band and Pendant. They may be wiped with an alcohol swab or washed in soapy water.
• • BP is typically worn continually without removal for the duration of drain use.
• • BP eliminates the possibility of forgetting to remove the carrier while attached with safety pins or pockets to outer clothing such as a hospital robe or nightgown.

Many thanks to HandandHand Medical for supplying the bulbs to DiepCJourney patients and sponsoring the blog. I appreciate you sending samples for the breast cancer community we serve. This allows me to see them myself and send them to patients to use for their breast reconstruction surgery. One of the comments I received after mailing the Bulb Pendant to a patient:

I love the neck strap… great material, very soft.

Disclaimer

References made to my surgical group, surgeon and healthcare team are made because they are aligned with my values and met my criterion after I did research of their practices and success rates. Any other healthcare provider that displays the same skill, compassion education and outreach to patients will be given consideration and recognition on this website.  The information contained on this website is not a substitute for or should be construed as medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician for medical advice.