Take the Penrose Quiz!

Can you solve this brain teaser?

By Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ

Pictured: Penrose drain placed after excision of a tumor from a 7-year-old Labrador’s chest wall.

Questions: 

  1. What type of drain is a Penrose?
  2. What is the other family of drains? Give an example.
  3. Why is the placement of this drain less than ideal?
  4. How should it have been placed?
  5. What is a wise precaution with any Penrose? Why?

Check your answers on the next page.