THORACOSTOMY

index

table of contents

my operations

How I did It?

Operative Technique

Ø      Patient supine if possible upright, if can tolerate sitting with arms held high on the head

Ø      Asepsis and antisepsis technique

Ø      Sterile drapes palced

Ø      Lidocaine injected subcutaneously at area of incision,

      Level of 6^th rib anterior axillary line

Ø      Transverse incision made directly over 6^th rib anterior axillary line

Ø      Kelly curve forcep passed just above 6^th rib AAL and inserted through 5^th intercostals space anterior axillary line, entering pleural space

Ø       Incision digitally explored, assess pleural adhesions, etc and to make incision wide enough to allow thoracic catheter to pass.

Ø      Thoracic catheter inserted through 5^th intercostal space, anterior axillary line

Ø      Thoracostomy tube attached to a closed suction drain (thora-bottle)

Ø      Tube secured with silk 0 sutures

Ø      Betadine paint

Ø      Vasilinized sponge applied

Ø      OS pack

Ø      Leukoplast applied