Lab 4 Flashcards
what is the purpose of chest tubes & pleural drainage
- to remove air and fluid from the pleural space
- to restore normal intrapleural pressure so the lungs can re-expand `
what is done for small accumulations of air or fluid in the pleural space
- may not require removal by thoracentesis or chest tube
- may be reabsorbed over time
where can chest tubes be inserted (3)
- ER
- at pt’s bedside
- in the OR
how are chest tubes inserted in the OR
- via thoracotomy incisions
how is a chest tube inserted in the ER or at the bedside
- the pt is placed in a sitting position or lying down w the affected side elevated
- area prepared w antiseptic solution
- site is infiltrated w a local anesthethic
- then a small incision is made
- then 1 or 2 chest tubes are placed
where is a chest tube to remove air placed
- anteriorly, thru the second intercostals space
where is a chest tube to remove blood & fluids placed
- posteriorly thru th 8th or 9th intercostal space
describe the clamping of the tubes during insertion of a chest tube
- kept clamped during the insertion
- after tubes are in place, they are connected to drainage tubing and pleural drainage, and the clamp is removed
describe the connection of chest tube to drainage systems
- each tube may be connected to a separate drainage system & suction
- or a Y-connector is used to attach both chest tubes to the same drainage system
describe the dressing for chest tibe
- tubes are sutured to the chest wall and the puncture wound is covered w an airtight dressing
most pleural drainage systems have __ basic components
3
list the 3 basic components of pleural drainage
- collection chamber
- water-seal chamber
- suction control chamber
describe the purpose of the collection chamber
- receives fluid and air from the chest cavity
- the fluid stays in this chamber while air vents to the second compartment
what should be assessed r/ the collection chamber
- drainage amt & color
- any significant changes (note: it is normal for an increase in drainage if the pt gets up to ambulate)
describe the purpose of the water-seal chamber
- contains 2 cm of water that acts as a 1-way valve to prevent backflow of air into the pt from the system
- the incoming air enters from the collection chamber, and bubbles up thru the water
describe the bubbling in the water-seal chamber (3
- initial bubbling of air when a pneumothroax is evacuated
- intermittent bubbling with exhalation, coughing, or sneezing (d/t increase in intrathoracic pressure)
- “tidalling” (fluctuations) seen which reflects the pressures in the pleural space
what does it mean if tidalling in the water-seal chamber is not seen (2)
- the lungs have re-expanded
- kink or obstruction in the tubing
where does the air go after the water-seal chamber
- the air exits the water seal and enters the suction chamber
describe assessment of the water seal chamber (2)
- assess for tidalling
- monitor for air leaks
what is the purpose of the suction control chamber
- applies controlled suction to the chest drainage system
- uses tubing with one end submerged in a column of water and the other end vented to the atmosphere
the amt of suction applied by the suction control chamber is regulated by?
- the depth of the suction control tube in the water
- NOT by the amt of suction applied to the system
the suction control chamber is filled w…
- 20 cm of water
what occurs when the negative pressure generated by suction in the suction control chamber exceeds 20 cm
- the air from atmosphere enters the chamber thru a vent, and begins bubbling up thru the water
= excess pressure relieved
describe the relationship betweeen negative pressure and suction in the suction control chamber
- an increase in suction does not result in an increase in negative pressure to the system bc any excess suction merely draws in air thru the vented tubing
the suction pressure of the suction control chamber is usually ordered to be….
-20 cm H2O
what are 2 types of suction control chambers
- wet
- dry
describe the wet suction control chamber
- the system outlined previously
what is a way to tell that wet suction is functioninf
- bubbling of the water
what needs to be done with the water in a wet suction control chamber
- needs to be added periodoically –> evaporates over time
describe a wet suction control chamber
- no water
- uses either a restrictive device or a regulator (internal to the chest drainaqge system) to dial the desired negative pressure
what indicates that the suction is working in a dry suction control chamber
- a visual alert (no bubbling)
describe assessment of the suction control chamber
- assess for gentle bubbling (if water seal ssytem)
- check suction float ball (if dry system)
what is the benefit of using a disposable plastic chest drainage system
- allow pt mobility
- decrease the risk of breaking or spilling the drainage system
what is a Heimlich valve
- another device used to evacuate air from the pleural space
describe the Heimlich valve
- consists of a rubber flutter 1-way valve within a rigid plastic tube
- attaches to the external end of the chest tube
- placed between the chest tube and the drainage bag
describe how the Heimlich valve works to remove air
- the valve opens whenever the pressure is greater than the atmospheric pressure and closes when the reverse occurs
- allows for escape of air but prevents the re-entry of air into the pleural space
- functions like a water seal
when is the Heimlich valve usually used (2)
- for emergency transport
- special care home situations
what is a benefit of small chest tubes? what are cons?
- benefit: used in selected pts bc are less traumatic
- con: smaller = can become kinked, occluded, or dislodged more easily
the drains in small chest tubes may be… (2) which are less traumatic
- straight
- “pigtail” catheters (curled at the distal end) –> less traumatic
if a small chest tube is occluded, what can be done
- can be irrigated by the physician using sterile water
what can be performed thru pigtail catheters
- chemical pleurodesis
small chest tubes are not suitable for…
- trauma
- drainage of blood
small chest tubes and heimlich valves should be used w caution in what kinds of pts? why?
- pts on mechanical ventilators d/t potential for rapid accumulation of air and a tension pneumothorax
when should a system leak w chest tubes be suspected
- if bubbling is continuous
describe what to do if bubbling is continuous w a chest tube (suspection of system leak) (2)
- to determine the source of the leak, momentarily clamp the tubing successively from the chest tube insertion site to the drainage set, observing for bubbling to cease –> if ceases, the leak is above the clamp
- retape tubing connection
if the leak in a chest tube system continues, what should you do
- notify the physician
- may be necessary to replace the drainage apparatus or to secure the chest tube with an air-occlusive dressing
what do high fluid lvls in the water seal indicate?
- residual negative pressure
what needs to be done if there are high fluid lvls in the water seal
- may need to be vented by using the high negativity release valve available on the drainage system to release the residual pressure from the system
- do not lower water-seal column when wall suction is not operating or when the pt is on gravity drainage
describe how to maintain the tubing w a chest tube system (4)
- keep all tubing loosely coiled below chest lvl
- tubing should drop straight from bed or chair to drainage unit
- do not let tubing be compressed
- keep all connections between chest tubes, drainage tubing, and drainage collector tight, and tape at connections
what should you observe for general care of chest tube systems
- observe for air fluctuations (tidalling) and bubbling in the water-seal chamber –> should rise w inspiration and fall w expiration
what does it mean if tidalling is not observed in the chest tube system
- the drainage is blocked
- the lungs are re-expanded
- or the system is attached to suction
how do you assess for tidalling if the chest tube is connected to suction
- disconnect from wall suction to check
what should you assess for in a pt with a chest tube inserted
- assess VS, lung sounds, pain
- assess for manifestations of reaccumulation of air and fluid in the chest
- assess for bleeding
- assess for chest drainage site infection
- assess for poor wound healing
what are signs of reaccumulation of air & fluid in the chest
- decreased or absent breath sounds
what is a sign of signif bleeding w a chest tube
- > 100 mL/hr
what are signs of chest drainage site infection (4)
- drainage
- erythema
- fever
- increased WBC
describe the clamping of chest tubes (3)
- not routinely clamped
- a physician order is required
- a physician may order clamping for 24 hrs to evaluate for reaccumulation of fluid or air before discontinuing the chest tube
what should a pt w chest tube’s be encouraged to do (3)
- breath deeply periodically to facilitate lung expansion
- encourage ROM exercises to the shoulder on the affected side
- incentive spirometry every hr while awake to prevent atelectasis or pneumonia
where should the chest drainage system be positioned
- never elevate to the lvl of the pt’s chest (will cause fluid to drain back into the lungs)
- secure unit to the drainage stand
what do you do if the drainage chambers of a chest tube are full
- notify the physician and anticipate changing the system
- do not try to empty it