Pneumothorax
Emergency Needle Aspiration

 

 Reviewed by Charge Nurse Newborn
October 2007
Clinical Guidelines Back Newborn Services Home Page
Equipment for Emergency Needle Aspiration Emergency Treatment Diagrams

Emergency Equipment for Needle Aspiration - Drainage of Pneumothorax

Emergency pot from pneumothorax trolley
  • Scalp vein 23 and 25 gauge butterfly needles
  • 1 x 10ml and 1x 20ml syringe
  • 1 alcohol wipe
  • 3 way tap
  • 1 small sterile specimen container

Emergency Treatment of Pneumothorax

Step Action
1 Collect emergency pneumothorax pot from resuscitation trolley. 
2

For syringe aspiration:

  • Connect 1 20ml syringe to 3 way tap then connect to butterfly needle tubing.
  • Dr/NS-ANP inserts needle into chest and aspirates air.
For underwater drainage:
  • Fill small sterile specimen container with sterile water.
  • Hold tubing of butterfly cannula under water.
  • Dr/NS-ANP inserts needle into chest - bubbling of air underwater from end of tubing should be seen as pneumothorax drains
  • Ensure tubing is kept under water until needle is removed from baby’s chest.

Emergency Needle Aspiration - Drainage of Pneumothorax - Diagram

Syringe Drainage
Syringe drainage

Underwater drainage
Underwater drainage