Care after your Chest Tube is connected to a Sahara Chest Drainage System
What is the Sahara Chest Drainage System?
This chest tube allows fluid and air to escape from your chest until your lung heals.
This handout will explain how to care for this drain system.
Chest Tube and Valve Care
You should see the passage of air or fluids through the valve.
Check your chest tube insertion site daily for
signs and symptoms of infection.
- Increased redness or warmth at the site
- Pus like drainage
- Large amounts of swelling or bleeding
- Fever (by mouth) greater than 100.4º
for two readings, taken 4 hours apart
Keep the Sahara upright at all times and keep it below the tube insertion site on your chest. This will prevent the fluid in the chest tube from going back into your chest. Make sure the tube is not kinked. You need to make sure the chest tube is firmly connected to the Sahara drainage system. This site will be secured with a band.
- Do not alter the suction control dial on the front of the Sahara drainage system. The suction level is set by your doctor to best help your lung re-expand. Changing the suction level could delay your healing process or cause injury to your lung.
- Do not clamp the chest tube.
- Do not remove your chest tube from the Sahara drainage system.
How to Shower
You may shower with a water proof dressing over the chest tube site. Put a piece of Saran® wrap over the site. Tape all edges down to keep the water out. Make sure the Sahara drainage system does not go under the water.
How to Clean and Change the Dressing
The chest tube site needs to be washed with mild soap and water every other day. Do not use soaps that contain lotions or perfume. These can bother your skin. If you have drainage around the site you may need to wash it each day.
Place a split gauze bandage around chest tube site. Place a 4x4 gauze dressing over the chest tube. Secure the gauze with tape. You should change the gauze if it becomes wet or after you wash the site. You may use a skin barrier (3M “No Sting”) to protect your skin from the contact to tape.
Activity
Lifting limits
- If you have only a chest tube and drainage system you have no lifting limits
- If you have a incision, do not lift greater than 5 – 10 pounds for 3 – 4 weeks after your surgery
Do not soak in a bathtub, hot tub or swim while the chest tube is in place or until your incisions are healed.
Do not put lotions, powders, or any ointment on the site.
Follow-up visits with your doctor may be weekly or every other week. A chest x-ray will be done to make sure your lung remains open.
When to call the Doctor
- If the chest tube comes off from the Sahara drainage system attach it right away and then call your doctor.
- If you have sudden onset of sharp chest pain with shortness of breath.
- If the site is more tender.
- Pain at the site that does not go away with pain medicine.
- Signs of infection
- Increased redness or warmth at the site.
- Pus-like drainage.
- Large amounts of swelling or bleeding.
- Temperature taken by mouth, greater than 100.4º F, for two readings, 4 hours apart.
If you develop sudden or severe shortness of breath, call 911
Measure your chest tube drainage: Please bring this with you to your follow up visit so your Doctor can look over the chart.
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Morning |
Evening |
24 hour total |
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Date |
Chest Tube 1 |
Chest Tube 2 |
Chest Tube 1 |
Chest Tube 2 |
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PHONE NUMBERS:
Surgery Clinic: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (608)263-7502
Dr. Weigel’s office: (608)265-0499
Dr. Maloney’s office: (608)263-5215
After hours, the clinic number will be answered by the hospital paging operator (608) 262-0486. Ask for thethoracic surgery resident on call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you live out of the area, please call: Toll Free 1-800-323-8942
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 06/29/2010
Copyright © 04/28/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7014
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