Jackson Pratts do you flush?

Wishinonastar, BSN · Jul 17, 2010

hi everyone! i need an info:idea: about this.. pls help me. how do u flush nss to jackson pratt? is it towards the patient? what's the rationale for this? is it to prevent blockage? thank you in advance for your reply:)

i have never flushed a jp- just milk and strip the tubing. not sure why you would need to do this as it would be an infection risk. a jp is not that type of drain that would lend itself to flushing readily. it is supposed to be a vac, so what would be the purpose of irrigating it? anyone else?????

abba785 · Jul 17, 2010

yeah that's what i know..to strip the tubing empty the drainage then squeeze the bulb. im not sure why it's in the doctor's order, i thought there might be a different reason for that. i have to clarify it from the physician. thank you:)

HappydayRn · Jul 18, 2010

I've had orders to flush a JP before 5cc to and 5cc away to maintain patency. Only time I've ever had that order though. Then again I don't see a lot of JP's.

brownbook · Jul 18, 2010

About a million years ago in ICU we had a patient with a chest tube. I forget all the details but we had to flush the chest tube. I wish I could remember more, something to do with intentionally roughing up the lining of his pleural space, something to do with creating better adhesion But I'm sure the flush solution was something stronger than just normal saline? I have no idea if this has anything to do with your case?

CNL2B · Jul 18, 2010

JPs are only flushed per MD order. If whatever is coming out is sticky/clotty or will otherwise plug up the tubing (and stripping isn't enough) this is when I have seen it ordered, generally speaking. Some of our docs just like to order flushes so they can absolutely ensure patency of the tubing. You have to disconnect the bulb and access the tubing directly. As far as I know you can only flush toward the patient -- upstream poster said you could flush away (how? Didn't think there was another access port on the tubing.)

The exception to this would be JPs in people's heads post craniotomy. Have seen that a handful of times -- NEVER NEVER NEVER flush those, even if someone tries to tell you to. Significant damage to brain tissue will result.

I would like to add -- make sure you are using appropriate PPE. The only exposure I have had in 14 years of working in hospitals was a splash into my eye from disconnecting a JP bulb to flush it. Patient had peritonitis and abdominal drainage from the JP was infected. I had to go on abx eye gtts for two weeks. In the future --- would wear eye protection.