LoriH357

Here's a well-written article on the subject. https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-October-16-2.pdf

We have been pulling regular surgical JP drains all along. What is new is that we have some surgeons are placing JP drains or even "mini" chest tubes in the pleural space following open heart surgery. Critical care nurses must be certified before pulling any drain from the pleural space. Points to remember: JP drains have a flat portion about 6 " inside the patient. There WILL be resistance when you get to this section, just keep pulling firm and steady. If the JP is in the pleural space, clip/ discard the suture, then cover the insertion site with vasoline gauze, 4x4's. Have the patient hold their breath in while pulling, telling him to breath once the tube is out. I prefer to use clear plastic tape over the gauze as some drainage is possible once the tube is out. If the dsg saturates, either reinforce the dsg or change it but do NOT change the vasoline gauze to prevent a potential pneumothorax. Lori Hadas, RN, MSN (candidate), CCRN Cardiovascular Clinical Specialist