Post-mediastinal tube

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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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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.
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?

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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

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

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.

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