How To Put Chest Tube To Water Seal

Make sure all connections are taped and the chest tube is secured to the chest wall.

How to put chest tube to water seal.

Im pretty sure i know the answer already but i just wanted to confirm with a few other nurses out there. If using suction make sure the suction unit s pressure level causes slow but steady bubbling in the suction control chamber. If your patient has a traditional water seal chest drainage unit cdu you ll need to manage the system. When we water seal a patient suction is removed and drainage is monitored to gravity along with signs of air reaccumulation repeat chest x ray in a few hours symptoms of dyspnea etc depending on the physician s preference and clinical circumstances this is often a good test prior to removing the chest tube.

Ensure that the suction control chamber is filled with sterile water to the 20 cm level or as prescribed. A chest tube chest drain thoracic catheter tube thoracostomy or intercostal drain is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space or mediastinum it is used to remove air pneumothorax fluid pleural effusion blood chyle or pus from the intrathoracic space it is also known as a bülau drain or an intercostal catheter. Slide the blue tube clamp to where the tubing enters the drain. Filling the atrium wet water seal chest drainage system.

When the md puts it as water seal he means to put i. Connect your chest tube to the drainage system s patient catheter note that you need a stepped connector to firmly connect the two. If using suction make sure the suction unit s pressure level causes slow but steady bubbling in the suction control chamber. 1 20cm h2o suction or 2 water seal.

Twist off the top of the ampoule. If your patient has a traditional water seal chest drainage unit cdu you ll need to manage the system. Picture 2 to maintain cleanliness of the drain unit and. Keep the system closed and below chest level.

Fill the water seal chamber to the 2cm fill line picture 2. First squirt sterile saline or water into the suction port until the water seal chamber is filled to the 2 cm line. Add water to the water seal chamber through the suction port picture 1. An under water seal and chest tube chest drain thoracic catheter tube thoracostomy or intercostal drain is a long hollow flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the chest wall between the ribs and into the pleural space or mediastinum it is used to remove air pneumothorax or fluid pleural effusion blood chyle or pus empyema.

Do keep the system closed and below chest level. Make sure all connections are taped and the chest tube is secured to the chest wall. What is an under water seal drain chest tube. At my hospital when i have a patient with a chest tube i pretty much see one of two orders for it.