Thu18November0303AM 8

According to the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines for the insertion of chest drains, are the following true or false?

True / False

Drains should be clamped on removal Correct

All chest tubes should be connected to a chest drainage system Correct

Use of a flutter valve system allows earlier mobilisation and the potential for earlier discharge of patients Incorrect answer selected

Prophylactic antibiotics should be given to all trauma patients requiring the procedure Correct

Mechanical ventilation should be stopped during insertion Incorrect answer selected

Explanation

The incidence of empyema following chest drain insertion in trauma patients is 2.4%.

Mechanical ventilation should be stopped briefly in order to prevent further damage to the lungs on insertion.

Drains do not need to be clamped on removal. Clamping increases the risk of tension pneumothorax.

The use of flutter valves has now become widely adopted. These permit ambulatory or even outpatient management.

Reference:

Laws D, Neville E, Duffy J, et al. BTS guidelines for the insertion of a chest drain. Thorax. 2003;8:ii53-ii59.

Maskell N; British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline Group. British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guidelines--2010 update. Thorax. 2010;65:667-9.

Answer Statistics

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Average score: 53.52%

Times answered: 287