chest tubes

I don't think there is any difference in their therapeutic use/effect...just different technology/mechanics on which they operate.

The water is simple a way to determine the amount of air leak. Few bubbles-small leak, lot of bubbles-large leak. They are not a "water seal". Unless you have a couple of dinosaur docs like we do that still use a 2 bottle system

We use the Genzyme Pleur-evac system. The level of the water in the suction control chamber is what regulates the amount of suction. It has to be checked for evaporation every day or so to make sure the right amount of suction is still operational. It also has a separate water seal chamber.

We use the Sahara pleur-evac. It is a dry suction system. The only water instilled is for the air leak detection chamber.(approx. 20 ml):)

Sort of on the topic. When you check to see if water has evaporated don't you turn off the suction and see where the water level is? The other day I turned off the water and it was below 20cm line so I added to the line and another nurse said that isn't how it should be done, because when hooked to suction it is bubbling above the 20cm line. I have been doing this way for a long time. What is your opinion?

We had a pulmonologist that swore by the Emerson 2 bottle system. A real pain to set up, and maintain. But, you had very precise control over the suction. The only reason they quit using them was due to lack of parts.

bob

Sort of on the topic. When you check to see if water has evaporated don't you turn off the suction and see where the water level is? The other day I turned off the water and it was below 20cm line so I added to the line and another nurse said that isn't how it should be done, because when hooked to suction it is bubbling above the 20cm line. I have been doing this way for a long time. What is your opinion?

In my opinion you are correct in your actions. Filling to the -20cm line ensures the presecribed amt of suction. How can you properly check the fluid level with it bubbling?

Are you referring to having the patient to walll suction, then the h2o suction? Now our CVICU did this first. no matter how high you turn up the wall suction, the patient will receive only the suction set by the water system, -20, -30 by the orange dial on the collection chamber. Our surgeons did the wall, then weaned to just h2o seal. But in the end it seemed th same thing. Just make sure the wall suction isn't on intermittent.

If anyone can tell me different I'd love to hear, since this is an on going debate in my unit. I do not have text to back up what I've told you, just practice. So hopefully someone will chime in with some proof of each.

great question!

I hated using those at the hospital.

renerian

bob

Sort of on the topic. When you check to see if water has evaporated don't you turn off the suction and see where the water level is? The other day I turned off the water and it was below 20cm line so I added to the line and another nurse said that isn't how it should be done, because when hooked to suction it is bubbling above the 20cm line. I have been doing this way for a long time. What is your opinion?

I agree with you. When I am dealing with the same type of system, I turn off the suction, determine the water level and fill to the 20cm line. The manufacturer's instructions say that this is the way it is to be done.

We had a pulmonologist that swore by the Emerson 2 bottle system. A real pain to set up, and maintain. But, you had very precise control over the suction. The only reason they quit using them was due to lack of parts.

bob

Same here ... we had a surgeon that insisted on using the old emerson two bottle system! Trying to get parts was terrible. We told the surgeon that he needed to move on from the emerson to the enclosed systems. But he was still using the emerson when I left to move to NC.