EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR: Evidence-Based Strategy in the Prevention of Complications due to Retained Blood

An Educational Webinar with Presenters: Marc Gillinov, MD, Marc Gerdisch, MD, and Alyson Mehringer, RN discussing the basic principles of Chest Tube Management, the results of a 1 year quality improvement study and the operational perspective from the ICU Nursing Staff.

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Chest Tube Selection in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery: A Survey of Chest Tube-Related Complications and Their Management

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Shanaz Shalli, Diyar Saeed, Kiyotaka Fukamachi, A. Marc Gillinov, William E. Cohn, Louis Perrault, Edward M. Boyle. J CARD SURG 2009;24:503-509

A survey of North American cardiothoracic surgeons and specialty cardiac surgery nurses performed to better define problems with current
paradigms for chest drainage.

  • 100% of surgeons had observed chest tube clogging
  • 87% of surgeons reported adverse patient outcomes from a clogged chest tube
  • 87% of surgeons reported that they use larger diameter chest tubes due to the concern for the potential for chest tube clogging
  • 51% of surgeons stated that they are not satisfied with currently available tubes and procedures to avoid tube occlusion
  • 74% of surgeons believe that patient discomfort is impacted by the diameter of chest tubes used
  • 72% of nurses reported that their institution does not allow nurses to strip chest tubes
  • 75% of nurses report that managing chest tube clogging takes them away from other important tasks.