Medical Supplies for Thoracic Drainage
- Treatment Trolley
- Treatment Tray
- Sterile Drape
- Disinfected Water-Sealed Bottle
- 2 Kidney-Shaped Basins (1 base + 1 lid)
- Contents
- 2 pairs of atraumatic forceps
- 3 PVP-iodine cotton balls 2% tincture of iodine 75% alcohol
- 2 vascular clamps
- External normal saline
- Bottle opener
- Adhesive tape
- Safety pins
- Waste container
- Thoracic Drainage Tube Set
I. Purpose
To evacuate air or fluid from the pleural cavity, restore negative pressure, and promote lung re-expansion.
II. Operational Procedures
- Don a surgical mask hand hygiene
- In the treatment room, verify the sterilization expiration date. Open the disinfected water-sealed bottle
- Pour external normal saline long glass tube
- Place all supplies on the treatment trolley and wheel it to the patient’s bedside. Explain the procedure to the patient to gain cooperation.
- Position the drainage bottle 60–100 cm below the chest level
- Assess the wound site, remove safety pins, ensure patient warmth, and compress the drainage tube two vascular clamps
- Disinfect the connection port and properly reattach the drainage tube.
- Verify the integrity of the drainage system. Release the clamps, recompress the tube, and observe water column fluctuations
- Secure the setup, position the patient comfortably, organize supplies, and document drainage volume, color, and characteristics
III. Key Precautions
- Strict aseptic technique daily
- Never elevate the drainage bottle above the patient’s chest
- Prevent kinking, compression, dislodgement, or obstruction
- Ensure airtight sealing Vaseline-impregnated gauze do not clamp the chest tube pneumothorax
- Consider tube removal
- After removal, monitor for dyspnea, subcutaneous emphysema, or recurrent pneumothorax
- For disposable thoracic drainage systems