Lumbar drains are used to drain cerebrospinal fluid in patients with postoperative or traumatic dural fistulae, shunt infections, hydrocephalus, or increased intracranial pressure from a head injury.

Thompson HJ. Managing patients with lumbar drainage devices. Crit Care Care. 2000;20(5):59-68.
Provides detailed instructions.

Overstreet M. How do I manage a lumbar drain? Nursing. 2003;33(3):74-75.
The author responds to a question about how to maintain an output of 15 to 20 ml/hour when the patient changes position.

Khan MH, et al. Postoperative management protocol for incidental dural tears during degenerative lumbar spine surgery: a review of 3,183 consecutive degenerative lumbar cases. Spine. 2006;31(22):2609-2613.
Provides guidance on how long to drain fluids.

Reviewed and updated 4/15/2014 ldt