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Discussion

Question

Is there a new kind of chest tube that is teeny tiny and has small tubing and a small collection chamber? Saw one on a med surg one day and the nurse there hadn't been inserviced about it! I had never seen one like that. It was hooked to suction(like a NG) and could be clamped with a clamp similar to ortho drain clamps. Thanks. This had no water seal or floaty ball...

Featured Replies

Hey Sharann,

I think you saw a "Heimlich valve". They're much smaller and have (DUH!) a valve to prevent air from flowing into the chest (so no complex 3-bottle collection and suction system is needed.)

Don't know about hooking them to wall suction! Doesn't seem like a good idea--WAY too much suction!! Maybe they have a new kind that regulates that. But in the traditional Chest Tube, alot of that strange plumbing hanging off the bedrail is supposed to keep the suction really low despite the strong pull of the hospital suction system.

Papaw John

  • Admin
Hey Sharann,

I think you saw a "Heimlich valve". They're much smaller and have (DUH!) a valve to prevent air from flowing into the chest (so no complex 3-bottle collection and suction system is needed.)

Don't know about hooking them to wall suction! Doesn't seem like a good idea--WAY too much suction!! Maybe they have a new kind that regulates that. But in the traditional Chest Tube, alot of that strange plumbing hanging off the bedrail is supposed to keep the suction really low despite the strong pull of the hospital suction system.

Papaw John

Our flight medics use a portable suction system with the Hemlich valve and also, utilize the wall suction, too.

Hey Sharann,

I think you saw a "Heimlich valve". They're much smaller and have (DUH!) a valve to prevent air from flowing into the chest (so no complex 3-bottle collection and suction system is needed.)

Agree with Papawjohn,

They look like a little box with a valve, on the chest. I have never seen them hooked to any suction. They are ocasionally used on cancer patients.

  • Experts

The Heimlich valve in it's original incarnation is simply a latex valve in a tube - you can almost make one out of a finger of a glove. They are great for flights because there is no water seal to tip over/get in the way but they are useless if you are getting lots of clots down the ICC as the clots keep the valve open. I have NEVER seen one on suction and I would think given the configuration of the valve it would just suck together harder if nothing was coming down the tubing. Anyway the makers say you can connect it to "regulated" suction

http://www.bd.com/surgical/pdfs/bd_bardparker_heimlich_chest_drain_valve_brochure.pdf

  • Author

I think that you are all right about this.

thanks for answering. I think the design is smart and simple, both good things for nurses and patients.

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