Incision and drainage
Encyclopedia
Incision and drainage and clinical lancing
are minor surgical procedure
s to release pus
or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess
, boil
, or infected paranasal sinus. It is performed by treating the area with an antiseptic
, such as iodine
-based solution, and then making a small incision to puncture the skin using a sterile
instrument such as a sharp needle, a pointed scalpel
or a lancet. This allows the pus fluid to escape by draining out through the incision.
Good medical practice for large abdominal abscesses requires insertion of a drainage tube, preceded by insertion of a PICC line
to enable readiness of treatment for possible septic shock
.
Incision and drainage is often abbreviated as "IND" by medical professionals.
Clinical lancing
Clinical lancing is a procedure used to evacuate non-beneficial subcutaneous fluid accumulations, such as pustules or boils, if they remain in place once they have finished sequestering fluid from the surrounding areas, using a sterilised needle. Incision and drainage is a more general term for...
are minor surgical procedure
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
s to release pus
Pus
Pus is a viscous exudate, typically whitish-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammatory during infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis is known as a pustule or...
or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess
Abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue in which the pus resides due to an infectious process or other foreign materials...
, boil
Boil
A boil, also called a furuncle, is a deep folliculitis, infection of the hair follicle. It is always caused by infection by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by an accumulation of pus and dead tissue...
, or infected paranasal sinus. It is performed by treating the area with an antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
, such as iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
-based solution, and then making a small incision to puncture the skin using a sterile
Sterilization (microbiology)
Sterilization is a term referring to any process that eliminates or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media...
instrument such as a sharp needle, a pointed scalpel
Scalpel
A scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
or a lancet. This allows the pus fluid to escape by draining out through the incision.
Good medical practice for large abdominal abscesses requires insertion of a drainage tube, preceded by insertion of a PICC line
Peripherally inserted central catheter
A peripherally inserted central catheter is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time...
to enable readiness of treatment for possible septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
.
Incision and drainage is often abbreviated as "IND" by medical professionals.