Chest Tubes

Question 1

What is a chest tube?

Answer 1

• is a sterile drainage system to remove fluids and air from the pleural space around the lung.

“ It creates a negative pressure vacuum

• it helps reinflates the lung and prevents air from getting in .

Question 2

Don’ts of Chest tubes

Answer 2

• Don’t ever clamp it
• Don’t milk it (unless there’s a order)
• Don’t ever remove it (only HCP)
• Don’t have chest tube above chest level.
.• Don’t kink it
 • Don’t knock over…( if so replace it)

Question 3

Do’s of chest tubes

Answer 3

• keep free of kinks.
• keep below chest level
• assess for pain
• monitor for air leaks
• assess pt. every 15 min.
• encourage pt. to deep breathe and cough
• can be remove from suction
• keep atrium on immovable area on the bed.
• assess insertion site and drainage.
• if chest tubes comes out of pt. Place 3 window dsg