Pneumothorax
Chylothorax Drains

 

 Reviewed by Charge Nurse Newborn
October 2007
Clinical Guidelines Back Newborn Services Home Page

The nursing care is the same as for a baby with a pneumothorax except:

Step

Action
1 Prepare atrium chest drain using an adult dry suction chest drain unit (holds 2.1 litres).

Do not connect the chest drain to the wall suciton: leave as a gravity-drainage system.
2 If there is fluid loss from the drain insertion site, ensure all losses are measured e.g. using a weighed combine dressing and incontinent sheet combination.
3 A chest drain chart is used to record all losses and replacement fluids.  Collection chamber is graduated in 1ml increments up to 100ml, 2ml increments up to 200ml, and 10ml increments thereafter (Adult/paediatric drain).
4 If baby is oedematous/hydropic, attention should be paid to pressure areas, e.g. nurse on gel mattress.
5 Frequent checking of drain site to ensure tube is secure because of the tendency of site to ooze and drain to slip out.  Reapply adhesives as necessary.
6 Occasionally these babies are stable enough to be held by their parents.
7 Nursing prone may be advisable to facilitate drainage and comfort.