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CS29
Yes, You Can Ambulate Patients with Chest Tubes to Suction
By A. Petlin, C. Becker, & A. Damian
Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
For further information, please contact: amp2645@bjc.org
Problem: Chest tubes are integral components in the care of thoracic surgical patients. Sometimes they have sustained air leaks (2 days to 2 weeks) after thoracic surgery due to the type of the operation or the underlying anatomy. Keeping the chest tubes to suction prevents accumulation of air and development of a tension pneumothorax. Removing suction puts patients at risk for either of these potentially serious complications. However, chest tubes interfere with the patient’s mobility that is so important after surgery. Wall-suction tubing to the drainage unit limits the distance that patients can walk away from their beds.
Description: Early mobility helps prevent the complications of bed rest, increases patients’ strength and endurance, and promotes their preparation for discharge. We collaborate with both physical therapists and pulmonary rehab specialists to ensure that our thoracic surgery patients ambulate at least several times daily. In order not to limit walking distance by wall suction tubing length, we worked with the vendor of our chest drainage system to find a reliable battery-operated suction pump. We connect the 11-pound (5 kg.) pump to ambulation equipment or set it in the seat of a wheelchair. The pump allows the patient to remain connected to the prescribed level of suction. The patient then walks with the help of our nursing staff or our physical therapists. The two-hour rechargeable battery maintains suction whenever the patient is walking, or when the patient leaves our unit for tests such as X-rays or CT scans. We surveyed the staff about the durability, ease of use, portability and battery life of this portable suction pump. The surveys were overwhelmingly positive.
Evaluation and Outcome: We now have safe system to maintain chest tubes to suction while allowing patient mobility. We use this portable pump to the times that our patients walk on a treadmill in Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Having a chest tube air leak is no longer a barrier to early ambulation, physical therapy and rehab.
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