Chest Tube Flashcards
Describe the Visceral
-Serous membrane investing the lung
-No pain nerves
Describe the Parietal
-Lines the wall of the thoracic cavity
-Pain nerves
Describe the Pleural space
Airtight space with only a small amount of fluid to allow the surfaces to move smoothly over one another
When the pleural space is experiencing abnormality what is this called?
Pleurisy
Define pleurisy
(inflammation of the pleura) can alter the movement of the chest by causing pain on inspiration
What are the two types of pleurisy?
Wet & Dry
Describe Wet Pleurisy
Abnormal Fluid Increase!
this excess fluid that becomes infected may cause pus formation, aka. empyema.
What is another name for wet pleurisy?
pleural effusion
(so if wet pleurisy is described on the exam understand that it is another name for pleural effusion)
Describe Dry Pleurisy
membranes become congested and
swollen and rub against each other causing pain on inspiration
If asked, what breath sound would you hear that indicate dry pleurisy?
Pleural Friction Rub
(if this is described in the exam understand that dry pleurisy is what your dealing with)
What causes more pain dry or wet pleurisy?
Wet pleurisy is less likely to cause pain since there is no chafing (rubbing).
What reason may the pleural space may be violated/disrupted
Due to trauma or surgery
In what ways can a pneumothorax be accumulated? HINT (3)
Spontaneous, Chest trauma, or surgery
True or False
When a pneumothorax percentage is greater than 20% this indicates a need for a chest tube
True
(<10% typically means a pneumo that normally resolves on its own)
What can air or fluid in the pleural space cause?
collapse of the lung or mediastinal shift
Describe thoracentesis.. What’s the purpose and procedure of a thoracentesis?
surgical puncture of the chest wall and pleural space with a needle or catheter to aspirate pleural fluid for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes
Describe a tension pneumothorax..whats the purpose and procedure of a relieving it?
Done by placing a large bore needle (16
gauge or larger) through the 2nd or 3rd
intercostal space midclavicurly & anteriorly
So what’s the difference b/w the procedure for a tension pneumo & plueral effusion
Ask Ebong because I don’t think there is one… Only difference found is that a tension pneumo will be removing air while plueral effusion will be removing fluid
What can a thoracentesis cause? In other words, what are some complications? aka Disadvantanges
HINT (8)
Infection
Hemothrox
Subcutaneous empysema
Air Embolism
Pneumothorax
Sudden mediastinal shift from removal of large amount of pleural fluid.
Unstable vital signs
Pulmonary edema from the sudden re-expansion of the lung and mediastinal shift
List some advantages of thoracentesis procedure HINT (3)
May relieve symptoms
Allow collection of specimens for lab analysis
Prevent need for chest tube and continuous drainage (REMEMBER JUST BCUS IT CAN DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL)
Exudate vs Transudates
Exudates are fluids, CELLS, or other cellular substances that are slowly discharged from BLOOD VESSELS usually from inflamed tissues.
Transudates are fluids that pass through a membrane or squeeze through tissue or into the EXTRACELLULAR SPACE of TISSUES.
Diseases/Defects causing Transudates
CHF
Cirrhosis
Nephrotic syndrome
Hypoproteinemia
Diseases/Defects causing Exudates
inflammatory infectious, or
neoplastic diseases of the pleura or lung EXAMPLE: Hemothorax, Chylothorax, Empyema SL 14
*Other causes: pulmonary infarction, chest trauma, drug hypersensitivity, and collagen vascular disease
Test Understanding:
When discussing transudate fluid, which disease would be associated with it?
A. Cirrhosis
B. Tension Pneumothorax
C. Hemothorax
D. Empyema
A. Cirrhosis
TIP: Do NOT try to memorize both exudate and transudate causes/associations, memorize one category to know what the other would not be.
Exudate: Pleural space & Lung diseases
Transudate: Heart & Kidneys
During a thoracentesis, what should the site be disinfected with?
Iodine (Betadine)
SL 11
What is the mediastinal space?
heart, trachea, esophagus, the thymus, and lymph nodes— aka area between the lungs