Selected nursing tasks in pleural drainage insertion and monitoring

Pleural drainage is performed as a separate intervention or a supplementary procedure after thorax surgery. Indications, description of the procedure and the principles of supervision over the course of the drainage, including especially the nurse’s role in providing direct patient care are presented. This article also describes nurses’ tasks during the entire therapeutic process focused on the patient with pleural drainage as well as problems encountered in delivering nursing care to these patients and potential solutions. They remain the same regardless of indications for the drainage, course of the procedure itself and the type of drainage system used.

Actions undertaken by the nurse are based on the patient’s general condition. The nurse prepares the patient for the procedure and assists in the insertion of pleural drains. Postoperative care is to ensure appropriate drain placement, dressing over the drain insertion site and air tightness of the suction unit.