Chest Tubes Flashcards
Purpose of Chest Tube
Re-establish negative pressure in the pleural space
Negative Pressure
Allows things in the pleural space to stick so that the lung expands with the chest wall
Pleural space
the space between the lung and the chest wall
PNEUMOthorax
chest tube removes AIR
(BUBBLING not drainage)
HEMOthorax
chest tube removes BLOOD
(DRAINAGE not bubbling)
HEMOPNEUMOthorax
chest tube removes AIR & BLOOD
The 2 steps for chest tube questions…
- Look at the disease its placed for
- Pay attention to its location
Chest tube locations - A or B
Apical (top) - removes AIR
- pneumo
Basilar (base) - removes BLOOD
-hemo
A&B
-hemopneumo
What should you assume about chest trauma/surgery
That its UNILATERAL unless specified
Closed Drainage Devices
Knocking them over is OKAY… tell pt to take deep breath & set the device back up
-Jackson-pratt, Emission, pneumovac etc
Water Seal Break Steps
Clamp (First): nothing will get in
Cut: cut from broken device
Submerge(Best/Priority):sterile water
Unclamp:allows in and out again
-All steps must be done in 15 seconds or less if not unclamp & restart
Why is Submerge the MOST important step (best/priority)
It re-establishes the water seal
what to do when a Chest Tube is pulled out
GLOVED hand & covering the opening (first)
or
STERILE vaseline gauze and tape 3 sides (best)
Bubbling (ask 2 questions)
WHERE & WHEN
Bubbling in Water Seal Chamber
Intermittent is GOOD
continuous is BAD
