902 Pearls J AM ACAD DERMATOL

NOVEMBER 2003

Stuart J. Salasche, MD Surgical Pearls Editor Mark G. Lebwohl, MD Medical Pearls Editor

Surgical Pearl: Use of sterile glove finger as a

surgical drain
S. Ray Peterson, MD,a Suneel Chilukuri, MD,b Leonard Goldberg, MD,b
and Aaron K. Joseph, MDc
Houston and Pasadena, Texas

I n most dermatologic surgery, hematomas and

infection can be avoided by careful patient se-
lection, hemostatic control, and meticulous sur-
gical technique. On rare occasions, postoperative
hematomas or abscesses require drainage. Herein,
we describe an alternative to the Penrose drain com-
monly used in such situations.
Penrose1 first reported placing a common rubber
condom to drain excess fluid collection after abdom-
inal surgery. Today, with millions used yearly, the
Penrose drain is the most widely used drain.2
Whereas the cost of the Penrose drain is not
prohibitive, it is not routinely used by all dermato-
logic surgeons nor kept in supply in the office.
However, all dermatology offices do have sterile Fig 1. Left, Penrose drain. Middle, Sterile glove, third
finger. Right, Fenestrated drain.
surgical gloves that can be modified and used as a
surgical drain. To make this drain, first cut the ap-
propriate length finger from a nonpowdered, sterile
glove (Fig 1). This “finger” can then be fenestrated to
allow greater drainage along the lateral aspects of
the wound that need fluid removal (Fig 2).
The fenestrations are discarded, and the drain is
placed within the wound bed with the exposed
portion allowed to drain inferiorly. The length of
drain required will dictate the size of glove needed
and which digit to remove from the body of the

From Derm Surgery Associates, Houston,a Department of Fig 2. Left, Commercially available Penrose drain cut to
Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,b and Skin
appropriate length. Right, Sterile glove, third finger re-
and Laser Surgery Associates, Pasadena.c
Funding sources: None.
moved and fingertip removed to create drain.
Conflict of interest: None identified.
Reprints not available from authors.
Correspondence: Leonard Goldberg, MD, Derm Surgery
Associates, 7515 Main, Suite 240, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: glove. Because the surgical glove is made of the
sraypeterson@hotmail.com. same type of latex as the conventional latex rubber
J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:902-3.
Copyright © 2003 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Penrose-type drain, no increased complications (eg,
0190-9622/2003/$30.00 ⫹ 0 greater adherence to body tissues) should be ex-
doi:10.1067/S0190-9622(03)02124-8 pected.
J AM ACAD DERMATOL Pearls 903
VOLUME 49, NUMBER 5

REFERENCES 2. Abramson DJ. Charles Bingham Penrose and the Penrose drain.
1. Penrose CB. Drainage in abdominal surgery. JAMA 1890;14:264. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1976;143:285-6.

Direct all Medical Pearl submissions to Dr

Direct all Surgical Pearl submissions to Dr
Stuart J. Salasche, 5300 N Montezuma
Trail, Tucson, AZ 85750.
Mark G. Lebwohl, Mount Sinai Medical
Center, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box
1048, New York, NY 10029.