Technique Introduction and Checklist
In this section you will cover:
- Infiltrating local anaesthesia
- Incision and blunt dissection
- Insertion of the drain
- Fogging of the tube
- Securing the drain
In your preparatory checklist, there are four points to consider before you start:
- Does your patient really need a chest drain? Reconsider the indications – might observation be more appropriate? Review the clinical signs and chest x-ray
- Check your marked site of insertion is correct
- Whilst you will be concentrating on the skill of chest drain insertion, ensure that a team member is concentrating on the patient and patient’s monitor, particularly in unstable cases
- It is a strictly aseptic technique from here so ensure eye protection, sterile gown and gloves