Tubes, Lines, and Medical Equipment

Question 1

Arterial Lines (A lines)

• Should you apply blood pressure cuffs over this line?
• How should you grasp the IV support line?
• Activities in which position should be avoided for patients that have an A line?
• Is exercise possible for patients with an A line?

Answer 1

• No
• Grasp pole to keep the infusion site at heart level
• activities that have the patient have their infusion site be above their heart for long periods of time
• exercise is possible but avoid disturbing the apparatus area

Question 2

Is exercise possible with patients who have a Swan-Ganz catheter (Pulmonary Artery Catheter)?

Answer 2

Yes but avoid disturbing the site of catheter insertion

Question 3

What is a Nasogastric Tube?

What is it used for?

Answer 3

a plastic tube inserted through a nostril that extends into the stomach

used for short term liquid feeding, medication administration, or to remove gas from the stomach

Question 4

What is a Gastric Tube?

What is it used for?

Answer 4

a tube inserted through a small incision in the abdomen into the stomach

can be used for long term feeding in the presence of difficulty with swallowing due to an anatomic or neurologic disorder or to avoid risk of aspiration

Question 5

What is a Jejunostomy Tube?

What is it used for?

Answer 5

tube inserted through endoscopy into the jejunum via the abdominal wall

can be used for long-term feeding for patients that are unable to receive food by mouth

Question 6

What is a Intravenous system feeding device?

What is it used for?

Answer 6

consists of a sterile fluid source, a pump, a clamp, and a catheter insert into a vein

can be used to infuse fluids, electrolytes, nutrients, and medication for patient’s who’s GI system cannot digest or absorb food

Question 7

What is an arterial line used to monitor?

What should a therapist do if it becomes displaced?

Answer 7

blood pressure or obtain blood samples

Therapist should apply pressure to limit blood loss and call for assistance

Question 8

What is a Central Venous Pressure Catheter used to monitor?

Answer 8

• measuring pressures in the right atrium or the superior vena cava by means of an indwelling venous catheter and a pressure manometer
• can evaluate right ventricular function
• right atrial filling pressure
• circulating blood volume

Question 9

What is an Indwelling right atrial catheter (Hickman Catheter)?

Answer 9

catheter inserted through the cephalic or internal jugular vein and threaded into the superior vena cava and right atrium

used for long term administration of substances and medications into the venous system

Question 10

What type of monitoring is performed by epidural sensors, subarachnoid bolts, and intraventricular catheters?

Answer 10

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring

Question 11

What is a Pulmonary Artery Catheter (Swan-Ganz Catheter)?

What is it used for?

What should patient’s avoid with this catheter?

Answer 11

a soft, flexible catheter that is inserted through a vein into the pulmonary artery

used to provide continuous measurements of pulmonary artery pressure

avoid excessive movement of the head, neck, and extremities to avoid disrupting the line at the insertion site

Question 12

What is a nasal cannula?

Answer 12

oxygen therapy using tubes inserted one centimeter into each nostril and can deliver up to 6 liters of oxygen per minute

Question 13

What is an Oronasal Mask?

Answer 13

oxygen therapy using a facepiece that covers the mouth and nose

can also be used to administer medications, mucolytic detergents, or adjust humidity

Question 14

What is an Oxygen Therapy Tent?

Answer 14

a canopy placed over the head and shoulders or entire body for the purpose of delivering oxygen at a higher level than normal

Question 15

What is a tracheostomy mask?

Answer 15

mask placed over the stoma or tracheostomy for the purpose of administering supplemental oxygen

Question 16

What is balanced suspension skeletal traction?

What is is most commonly used for?

Are there any drawbacks?

Answer 16

traction that requires pins, screws, and wires to be surgically inserted into bone for purpose of applying a traction force using an externally applied weight

Most commonly used for comminuted femur fractures

Requires prolonged immobilization and therefore increases the incidence of secondary complications such as contractures or skin breakdown

Question 17

What is External Fixation Skeletal Traction?

Answer 17

a surgical procedure where holes are drilled into uninjured areas of bone surrounding the fracture and the fracture is then set into the desired alignment using an external frame to maintain the bony fragments in the desired alignment

Enhances stability and allows for earlier mobility while maintaining the desired alignment

Question 18

What is Internal Fixation Skeletal Traction?

Answer 18

a surgical procedure that attempts to promote the healing process of bone without appliances being applied external to the skin which includes metal plates, rods, wires, and screws

usually has less post-operative complications than other skeletal traction surgeries and allows for early mobilization

Question 19

What is an external urinary catheter?

Answer 19

a catheter that is applied over the shaft of the penis and is held in place by a padded strap or adhesive tape

Question 20

What is an Foley urinary catheter?

Answer 20

an indwelling urinary tract catheter that has a balloon attachment at the indwelling end which can be filled with air or sterile water and must be deflated before removal

Question 21

What is a suprapubic urinary catheter?

Answer 21

an indwelling urinary catheter that is surgically inserted directly into the patient’s bladder under general anesthesia

Question 22

What is a chest tube used for?

Answer 22

a plastic tube inserted into the chest via an incision and used to suction out air, fluid, or pus from the intrathoracic space

Question 23

What is an ostomy device?

Answer 23

a method of collecting waste from a surgically produced opening in the abdomen called a stoma which extends into the small intestine

patient can lead an active lifestyle with ostomy bag still attached due to it being air and water tight