Drainage Apparatus and Method

An apparatus for removing body fluids from a body cavity by suction, comprising:

• a catheter having a drainage lumen and an auxiliary lumen adapted for placement adjacent a wound in the body cavity to be drained of body fluid, the drainage lumen having a proximal end being in fluid communication with a proximal end of the auxiliary lumen;
• a container for connection in fluid communication with the drainage lumen and for receiving body drainage fluid from the body cavity;
• a source of suction for effecting negative pressure in the drainage lumen;
• and
• a valve for opening the auxiliary lumen in order to supply air or gas to the body cavity;
• wherein, for removing clots or plugs in the drainage lumen, the apparatus further comprises a first pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the auxiliary lumen and a controller to increase the pressure difference between a pressure in the drainage lumen and a pressure in the atmosphere when the auxiliary lumen is open only when the pressure measured in the auxiliary lumen corresponds at least to atmospheric pressure.