Chest drain insertion: procedure, safety, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is chest drain insertion?

Chest drain insertion involves placing a small tube in your pleural space (the space between your lungs and ribs) to drain air or fluid.

A build-up of air (pneumothorax) occurs when your lung is punctured. This can cause pain and shortness of breath.

A collection of fluid (pleural effusion) can make it difficult for you to breathe.

When should I undergo chest drain insertion?

You may need to drain the chest to empty blood or air after surgery or trauma (in which your chest is subjected to direct pressure) to prevent lung failure.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before performing chest drain insertion?

An X-ray or scan can show that you have air or fluid and your doctor can empty it using a needle. However, if the numbers are large, chest drain insertion is usually the best treatment.

Process

What should I do before the procedure is performed?

Since chest tube insertion is generally performed as an emergency or post-operative procedure, there is only the minimum preparation required by the patient. If you are conscious, your doctor will ask your consent to perform the procedure. If you are unconscious, he will explain why a chest tube needs to be done after you wake up.

Generally, a previous X-ray, chest ultrasound, or CT scan is done to help confirm that your lung problem is due to fluid or air, and to determine whether a chest tube insertion will help with this problem.

How to process this procedure?

Inserting the tube usually takes less than 20 minutes.

Your doctor will inject a local anesthetic into the area where the tube will be inserted.

Your doctor will make an incision and insert an indoor tube between the lung and ribs. This tube is attached to a drain bag or special bag.

What should I do after this procedure?

You will usually stay in the hospital until your chest tube is removed. Patients can sometimes go home with a chest tube.

When the chest tube is in your body, the nurse will carefully check for air leaks, breathing problems, and if you need oxygen. They will also make sure the tube is in place. Your nurse will tell you whether you are allowed to stand and walk or sit in a chair.

What do you need to do?

Breathe deeply and try a cough routine (your nurse will teach you how to do this). Deep breathing and coughing will help re-enlarge your lungs, aid in draining, and prevent fluid from building up in your lungs.

Be careful not to entangle your tube. The drain should always be upright and under your lungs. Otherwise, fluids and air won't be drained and your lungs won't be able to enlarge.

Get immediate help if:

your chest tube pops out or shifts
tube is not connected
you suddenly have difficulty breathing or have more pain

Removing the chest tube is usually done quickly, and without sedation. Your doctor will give you specific instructions, but it is important to hold your breath while the tube is being removed so that no additional air can enter your lungs.

After that, the bandage will cover the former installation. You will probably have a small scar.

Your doctor can schedule x-rays at a later date to make sure there is no unnecessary buildup of air and fluid in the lungs.

Complications

What complications can occur?

Some of the risks of the installation procedure include:

- the tube shifts accidentally (this can cause the tissue around the tube to break)
- infection or bleeding when the tube is inserted
- pus buildup occurs
- improper placement of the tube (through the tissue, stomach, or too deep in the chest)
- injury to the lungs, which can make breathing more difficult
- injury to organs near the tube, such as the lymph, stomach, or diaphragm
- serious complications