Respiratory Flashcards
Pre procedure thoracentesis
CXR, baseline vitals
Position: sitting up leaning over table, sit in a chair backwards, propped up over the back of the chair, if they can’t sit up: lie on unaffected side with HOB at 45 degrees
Thoracentesis procedure
Client must be very still, no coughing or deep breaths
The fluid/blood/exudate is being removed from pleural space
As the fluid is removed, the lung should reexpand
Since you’re removing fluid, the client could go into a fluid volume deficit, so check vitals
Post procedure thoracentesis
Another CXR
Chest tubes
If the chest tube is placed in the upper anterior chest (2nd intercostal space) then it’s for what?
Removal of air, because air rises
If the chest tube is placed laterally in the lower chest, (8-9th intercostal space) then it’s for what?
Drainage, because drainage settles
Can the client have both a chest tube for removal of air and drainage?
Yes, they are y-connected together and attached to a closed drainage unit (CDU)
How is the chest tube secured to the client?
Sutured to the chest wall and a Vaseline or air tight dressing is applied around the chest tube exit site. The chest tube is then connected to a closed chest drainage unit
What is the purpose of the CDU?
To restore normal vacuum pressure in the pleural space. The CDU does this by removing all air and fluid in a closed one way system until the problem is corrected
3 chambers of CDU
- Drainage collection chamber
- Water seal chamber
- Suction control chamber
Drainage collection chamber
The chest tube connects to a 6 foot connection tube that leads to the drainage collection chamber.
What do you do do if the drainage chamber fills up?
Get a new CDU
What is the purpose of the water seal chamber?
To promote one way flow out of the pleural space which will prevent air from moving back up the system and into the chest
How are the drainage chamber and water seal chamber connected?
By a straw like channel that allows the drainage to remain in the first chamber and the air to go down into the water of the water seal chamber.
The water seal chamber contains how much water?
2 cm to act as a one way valve. Prevents backflow
When will the water seal chamber bubble?
If the client coughs, sneezes, or exhales
Tidaling
Fluctuation of rise and fall of water in the water seal tube as the client breathes. Normal, if it stops, it usually means the lung has reexpanded, there is a kink/clot in tubing, or a dependent loop is present
What happens when air exits the water seal chamber?
It enters the third chamber called the suction control chamber. This allows any air to be vented out through the air vent found at the top of the suction control chamber
If the chest tube client needs suction to remove air and fluid, what happens?
The suction control chamber controls the amount of pressure applied
What is filled in the suction control chamber?
Sterile water is placed up to the 20 cm line.
How do you set suction for suction control chamber?
Turn on the wall vacuum suction until you have slow gentle continuous bubbling
Dry suction system
Water is not used to regulate the pressure and therefore has no bubbling. A dial is used to set the desired negative pressure. Increasing the vacuum wall suction will not increase the pressure.
Assessment of closed chest drainage systems
Keep dressing tight and intact
Listen to bilateral lung sounds
Report pulse ox
What level should the CDU be at?
Below level of chest
If you lift it too high, fluid goes back in
We want gravity drainage
Tubings of CDU
Keep straight and free of kinks and dependent loops
Connections of CDU
Tape them, it must be a closed system