Post-mediastinal tube

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  1. This is a discussion on Post-mediastinal tube in CCU Nursing / Coronary / Cardiac, part of Critical Care Nursing ... Question...have you ever seen/assessed a post-mediastinal tube site that appeared to have an almost...

    by Dec 24, '12
    Question...have you ever seen/assessed a post-mediastinal tube site that appeared to have an almost stringy substance in it? I have seen a small amt before where it almost looks like a small blood clot coming out side which usually just scabs up and goes away but I encountered one that was five days postop pericardial window and two days post removal of tube and it almost had a stringy appearance and actually bounced back a little with removal of gauze bandage. Is this just a collection of serous fluid/tissue left behind?
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    by Bitsy07 Dec 24, '12 7:52 am
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  3. 3 Comments so far...

  4. Dec 24, '12 by
    Quote from Bitsy07
    Question...have you ever seen/assessed a post-mediastinal tube site that appeared to have an almost stringy substance in it? I have seen a small amt before where it almost looks like a small blood clot coming out side which usually just scabs up and goes away but I encountered one that was five days postop pericardial window and two days post removal of tube and it almost had a stringy appearance and actually bounced back a little with removal of gauze bandage. Is this just a collection of serous fluid/tissue left behind?
    What color was it? If it resembled a blood clot, thats probably what it was. Two days after the tube removal the incision site may not be completely healed, and/or you may have pulled off scabs when the gauze was removed. Did she have a pericardial drain?
  5. Dec 24, '12 by
    It had blood clot appearance at the end but it was more of a clear coloredinside. For lack of a better description it appeared like a snotty stringy consistency. But some resistance which I did not try to force. Yes it was a post pericardial tube
  6. Dec 24, '12 by
    Sounds like normal exudate to me, good idea leaving it alone some sites take longer to completely dry up and heal esp if the dsg is being changed.