Chest Tube LCS

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This patient’s chest tube was not connected to suction for 30-45 min due to transfer to another floor and faulty suction on a new floor (before it was corrected). Is this a safety issue? How bad is it exactly to be off low continuous suction with chest tubes? I noticed that sometimes patients walk with pt for 15-20 min and they are off suction and no one makes a fuss.

Thanks

Specializes in Primary Care, Military.
21 hours ago, FutureNurse0201 said:

Thank you for your responses, these clarify some of the confusion about CT. My pt had CABG surgery three days ago, was transferred from ICU and in that process between transfer and our suction not working (and getting a new one from another room) it took max 45 min. It was the end and change of shift (pt arrived at 6.30). Well, the night nirse told the pt that “it is very very bad” freaked him out, reported me to the manager and  made drama on the floor. So I was concerned about the pt and about being reported.

Just couldn't wait until after helping the patient and you out to tattle, eh? Yeesh. That says a lot right there. I mean, what good does it do anyone to immediately run up management's skirt, leaving the problem still without a solution? Not to mention upsetting the patient in the process. Some folks need to grow up. ?‍♀️

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3 hours ago, HarleyvQuinn said:

Just couldn't wait until after helping the patient and you out to tattle, eh? Yeesh. That says a lot right there. I mean, what good does it do anyone to immediately run up management's skirt, leaving the problem still without a solution? Not to mention upsetting the patient in the process. Some folks need to grow up. ?‍♀️

Yeah, I am back today and feel like everyone thinks I am incompetent and almost killed a patient. Probably all in my head but can’t help it

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Thanks, amoLucia. I have a raft of them at the ready. Not original in that I have posted them before, but they may have vanished along the way. 
I’ll see what I can do. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
On 5/23/2021 at 9:02 AM, FutureNurse0201 said:

Yeah, I am back today and feel like everyone thinks I am incompetent and almost killed a patient. Probably all in my head but can’t help it

Yep, all in your head. Unless this patient had great gobs of blood pouring out of him three days postop such that it would accumulate and impinge on his cardiac or pulmonary function, being off suction for that period wasn’t life threatening. Anybody who thinks it was doesn’t understand chest tubes, and that’s the truth. If he didn’t have any reason to have a tension pneumothorax (see tutorial above) leaving him to water seal for transfer, I.e., off suction but sealed,  was perfectly safe. See? Now you know something they don’t. Take care and you can stop worrying about this one. 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Placing my old manger hat on,  suggest to your unit educator/manger a refresher inservice on chest tube indications, use, suction setup, etc " so patient and family receive correct information and avoid being upset going forward".

?

 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Been in your shoes 40 years ago... no portable suction then.  You did nothing wrong.  Lesson learned:  check suction setup when getting ICU transfer with chest tubes post heads up report --- while they wheel patient down the hallway to you post hanging up phone.

Placing my prior manger hat on,  suggest to your unit educator/manger a refresher inservice on chest tube indications, use, suction setup, etc " so patient and family receive correct information and avoid being upset going forward".

?

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