Pleurx Drainage-Cheaper Alternatives??

[CardioHCNurse]

I have a Pt that has recurrent pleural effusions r/t CA. He came home w/ an indwelling pleural drain, to be drained Weekly and PRN. He is using the Pleurx Drainage system, and this Single-Use bottle and tubing is $90 EACH!

Are there any cheaper alternatives that would work instead of the Pleurx drainage systems?? If I drain him 2x/wk---that's $180 that our agency has to pay out.

My mgr found some info on how to rig a foley cath into using it as a drain, by gravity drainage. Anyone heard of this??

Thx!

[HealthyNurse]

The Pleurx drainage kits are very expensive and I've never heard of rigging a foley cath to use in its place. I would think that would be very risky, as far as infection control issues.

I did recently discovered that Bard has developed a new type of pleural drainage kit that is somewhat less expensive (if I recall correctly) and easier to use than the Pleurx. But, the major barrier is that the type of drain that worked with the system is placed by the surgeon (same as with the Pleurx). In my area, I don't see a lot of hospitals that have adopted using the Bard supplies.

[Lshiffman]

I am a rep for the Pleurx Catheter and if you are paying $90 for a drainage kit there are better prices out there. You can order the entire kit for less directly from Carefusion or from Independence Medical. You can also purchase the bottle by itself and a cap and make your own dressing kit. Another great way to say significan cash. As far as Bard, I do beleive they are just as expensive as Pleurx. They just have different packaging to they appear less. Please call 800-653-6827 (Carefusion Customer Service) to see who your local rep is. They will have a lot of ideas to help you cut significant costs. You may also call Independence Medical at [phone] for discounted supplies.

Good luck.