UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES

MEDICAL CENTER

PROCEDURE

PROCEDURE:

140

EFFECTIVE:

 

REVISION:

10/06

APPROVAL:

10/08

PROCEDURE FOR CLOSED CHEST DRAINAGE SYSTEM

PURPOSE: To assure the standardization of closed chest drainage system setup and management.

EQUIPMENT:

Closed chest drainage system

Suction tubing to connect drain to suction source (If ordered)

Suction canister (If ordered)

NURSING ACTION:

PROCEDURE STEPS:

1.       Open package and open sterile wrap.

2.       Swing out floor stand and set drain upright on floor stand.

3.       If present, slide tube clamp to where the tubing enters the drain.

4.       Remove ampoule of sterile water from the back of the drain, twist off the top, and add water to the water seal chamber through the suction port ( located on the top of the drain, in front of the carry handle).

5.       Fill water chamber to 2cm fill line.

6.       Connect chest drain to patient, maintaining sterility of the connector.

7.       Connect chest drain to suction source by attaching suction tubing to the suction port on top of the drain.

8.       Adjust suction regulator on drain to desired level by turning dial located on the side of the chest drain.

9.       Turn suction source on ; Increase source level to -80 mmHg or higher.

10.    Check monitor bellows to be sure that bellows have expanded beyond the triangular indicator.

KEY POINT : When suction levels are decreased on a dry suction chest drain, the manual high negativity vent must be depressed immediately after the adjustments are made to vent excess negativity in the system resulting from the original higher suction setting.  If this is not done, the patient and system will be subjected to higher negativity than that indicated by the suction regulator.  The water level in the water seal will rise to reflect this higher negativity to remind the operator to depress the negativity vent.  (The vent is used only when the patient is connected to source suction).

                      KEY POINT :   Bubbling indicates air leak is present.  Tidalling reflects pressure changes in the chest.

                                                 

REFERENCES: 

Wiegand, D.J., Carlson, K.K (2005). AACN Procedure Manual for Critical Care, (Fifth Edition) Saunders. St. Louis

 

RESOURCE PERSON(S):  Celestina D. Bryson RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, MBA, APN