What is Chest Tube Clogging?
After heart, lung and chest trauma surgery, fluid or air can accumulate in the chest, which can lead to complications and even death if not properly drained. Chest tubes are the primary mode of drainage, and are used in nearly all heart and lung surgery cases. Chest tubes are long, semi-stiff, clear PVC or silicone tubes that are inserted into the chest after heart, lung and trauma surgery to drain collections of fluids or air. They can be inserted in the pleural space around the lungs (pleural tubes) or around the heart (mediastinal tubes). Chest tubes are connected to a closed drainage system that is attached to suction. This drainage system is made up of a tubing coupler, which couples the chest tube to the drainage tubing that leads to the drainage canister. The drainage canister contains a water or dry seal mechanism to regulate pressure and prevent air from traveling back towards the chest. Because the pressure is generally lower in the closed suction drainage system than in the
