THORACOCENTESIS & ABDOMINOCENTESIS DEVICES
Pleura-Cath is designed for continuous chest drainage. A built-in "finger" pump allows for removal of fluid or air without suction. A luer activated port is included for thoracic lavage.
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Grasp the tip and terminal 1/2" of the PC in the jaws of a Kelly hemostat. The tip of the terminal end
of the tube can be trimmed with a blade following the curve of the hemostat to ease placement. |
Have an asst. stretch the skin over the anterior rib cage. Make a small incision
through the skin and SQ at the 7th or 8th intercostal space 1/3 of the way down
from the dorsal rib to the sternum. |
Force the tip of the hemostat containing the chest tube through the incision, intercostal
muscle and pleura just anterior to the 8th or 9th rib. There will be a pop
as you penetrate the pleura. |
Feed the tube forward toward the anterior sternum. Release the skin and begin
suction. The PC has a built-in finger pump. Suction or syringe
may also be used. |
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| Suture the skirt securely to the skin. |
For fluids, position an empty IV bag and line below the patient, squeeze the finger
pump a few times to create a siphon. Fluid will continue to drain. |
The luer activated port allows for thoracic lavage or instilling medications into
the pleural space. |
The second skirt can be secured to allow for patient mobility while the tube is
in place.
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Smart "Y" eliminates 3-way stop-cocks and their inherent problems and risks. Simply connect the Smart "Y" to the patient, attach a syringe to extract fluid/air, and connect a drain bag or syringe to capture extracted material. Use for thoracocentesis or abdominocentesis.