Chest Tubes Flashcards

1
Q

Purpose of Chest Tubes

A
  • Re-establish negative pressure in the pleural space
  • Pneumothorax (air)
  • Hemothorax (blood)
  • Pneumohemothorax (air & blood)
  • Locations
    • Apical (removes air)
    • Basilar - base of lung (removes blood)
    • ex.
      • bilateral pneumothorax
        • 2 - apical for both
      • unilateral pneumohemothorax
        • 2 - apical and basilar on side of pneumothorax
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2
Q

Troubleshooting

A
  • In routine, never clamp chest tube
  • In emergency, clamp the chest tube
    • Never clamp for longer than 15 seconds without Dr. orders
    • Use rubber-tipped double clamps
  • If water seal breaks
    • First - clamp it, cut tube away from device
    • Best - submerge the tube under water, then unclamp
  • If chest tube comes out
    • First - cover with a gloved hand
    • Best - cover the hole w/ vaseline gauze, put a dry sterile dressing on top, tape on 3 sides
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3
Q

Bubbling in water seal

A
  • if intermittent, it is good
  • If continuous, it is bad
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4
Q

Bubbling in suction control chamber

A
  • If intermittent, it is bad
  • If continuous, it is good
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