Pneumothorax
Two or Three Chest Drains to One Suction Source

 

 Reviewed by Charge Nurse Newborn
October
2006
Clinical Guidelines Back Newborn Services Home Page
Action Steps Diagram of 2 Drains to 1 Suction Diagram of 3 Drains to 1 Suction

Follow the steps below to set up 2 / 3 chest drains from 1 Low Pressure Suction gauge.

Steps Action
1

Use appropriate packet marked

  •  “2 Atrium Chest Drain T piece and silastic tubing”
  • or "connecting T piece for 3rd Atrium Chest Drain"
2 Assemble as per diagrams below
3 If you are unable to achieve constant gentle bubbling in both drains, use a G clamp (in drawer of pneumothorax trolleys) to suction tubing of individual atrium suction tube and tighten slowly to achieve correct bubbling.

Two Chest Drains Attached to One Suction Source – Diagram

Click on the image for a larger image    2To1Suction.gif (51632 bytes)

Set up of 3 Atrium Chest Drains using one suction source -  Diagram

Click on the image for a larger image    3To1Suction.gif (54940 bytes)