Adam Brooks & Peter F. Mahoney 
ABC of Tubes, Drains, Lines and Frames 

Surgical patients are increasingly undergoing operative procedures
that require complex post-operative care followed by prolonged
rehabilitation in the community, and few leave surgery without a
wound, tube, line or drain. The care of these surgical adjuncts is
undertaken either in hospital by ward staff or away from the
hospital in the community, where GPs and practice nurses are
expected to take over the day-to-day management of this care.

The ABC of Tubes, Drains, Lines and Frames is a practical
guide that provides a clear account of the key issues involved in
the assessment and management of surgical wounds, tubes, drains,
lines and stomas – from the operating theatre to the Critical
Care unit and from the ward into the community. It highlights
common pitfalls and includes ‘trouble shooting’
sections that provide an understanding of the issues at all stages
of post-operative care.

This new ABC is an invaluable resource for all GPs,
practice nurses, surgical nurses, junior doctors, and community
paramedics.

Table of Content

Contributors vi

Preface vii

Acknowledgements viii

1 The Complex Abdomen 1
Tracy R. Bilski Brian Rowlands and Adam Brooks

2 Surgical Airways 6
Andrew Taylor

3 The Chest 12
Ben Davies

4 Lines 19
Adam Wolverson

5 Pain 26
Trudy Towell and Jonathan Mole

6 Feeding 34
Gabriel Rodrigues Joy Field and Dileep Lobo

7 Surgical Wounds 40
Alastair Simpson and Adam Brooks

8 Surgical Drains 44
Sherif Awad Alastair Simpson and Adam Brooks

9 Hepatobiliary 49
Ian Beckingham Sherif Awad J. Edward Fitzgerald and Adam Brooks

10 Stomas 53
Iain Anderson and Amanda Smith

11 Urology 59
Gurminder Mann

12 Central Nervous System 64
Jerard Ross Dawn Williams and Neil Buxton

13 Frames Pins and Plaster 70
Ian Pallister

Index 75

About the author

Adam Brooks trained in hepatobiliary surgery, critical care
and trauma surgery in the UK, South Africa, Australia and the USA.
He has developed significant experience in the management of
complex surgical patients and the breadth of surgical complications
and their management. He has co-edited 4 surgical textbooks and
written more than 30 chapters.

Peter Mahoney is a consultant in anaesthesia and
resuscitation with the Defence Medical Services. He has worked in
resource- limited areas with NGOs and has co-edited 3 text books
(Ballistic Trauma, Conflict and Catastrophe, ABC
of Conflict and Disaster).

Brian Rowlands is Professor of Surgery and Head of
Critical care course at Nottingham and Chair of the RCS group
working on the care of the critically ill patient (a course for
surgical trainees). He will be President of the Assocn of Surgeons
of GB and I in May 2007.