Care with the thoracic drainage system in adults at the Universitary Hospital of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil

Abstract

The handling of adults’ closed thoracic drainage systems at the University Hospital of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil during a 10-month period was prospectively evaluated. Ninety thoracic drainages in 75 patients were analyzed. Traumatic causes in young patients determined pleural drainage (61/90, 68%). The absence of an omental tag of tape as a complementary tube fixation was the most common, albeit isolated case, occurrence in the procedure. In fact, it has been routinely found in 20% (18/90) of cases. Whereas tube obstruction (due to kinking, siphoning, clotting or fibrin) was detected in 12% (11/90) of drainage cases, drainage complications (subcutaneous emphysema, infection, accidental dislodgement, pneumothorax following chest tube removal) occurred in 21% (20/90) of cases. Adequate handling of tube thoracostomy reduces morbidity related to this procedure. Current research enhances the importance of continuous training and of textbooks that would standardize procedures for health teams whose role involves interventions in the thoracic drainage system.