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How does an intercostal tube or any surgical drain work?


scilearner

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Hello guys,

Ok lets say there is a man with fluid in his lungs. You put a chest drain (intercostal tube). How does it drain?

1. Since the container is below the chest, when the guy expirates due to high pressure does fluid just flow to container? Can there be any retrograde flow (since container is below on the floor does gravity prevent this)

2. The article I read says with intercostal tubes, look at the water level of the container. In inspiration it must rise, and it must fall in expiration. If this doesn't happen tube is not working. What water are they talking about and also why does this phenomenon happen.

Thanks :smile:

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It is illegal for anyone but a doctor to answer medical questions.

 

 

What act or regulation would they be breaking?

It might be unwise, and it would certainly be sensible to start any such reply with "I'm not a doctor but..."

Anyway, as I see it, this is an engineering question.

The diagram(s) here might help.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Chest+drain

Edited by John Cuthber
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What act or regulation would they be breaking?

If someone gives medical advice that is used by another person, who is harmed as a result of that advice, the person giving the advice might be held responsible for that harm. I am not a lawyer and do not know if such a case has occurred. But, I would not want to be involved in such a case.

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OK,

for a start, there is a difference between giving information and giving advice.

Also, doctors are not the only ones who give medical advice- ask a nurse, dentist, first aider...

 

Even if the OP was seeking medical advice (and I don't think it is) and the reply gave advice (it didn't) then, if the advice were given in good faith then there still wouldn't be a case, even if it turned out to be bad advice.

For there to be a case the person would have to deliberately (or recklessly) give bad advice or they would have to misrepresent themselves as a medical practitioner of some sort.

 

Incidentally, much the same can be said of giving legal advice if you are not a lawyer (and I'm not one).

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As John Cuthber has mentioned I was asking about the physics aspect of this question.

 

Threebottles.jpg
I understand it somewhat after reading the articles you guys mentioned. This is how I understood it, I have highlighted the questions I have
1. Ok if a person just has a pneumothorax, you can use the water seal chamber only. If you use a drain with no water, air will go back into pleural place in inspiration . Water acts as a valve. Water can go back into pleural cavity in inspiration, but that would not happen it to gravity and long length of tube. So it would only rise a bit. My question here is if you just use a water seal chamber should it be opened to the atmosphere to prevent air pressure increasing in seal.
2. If a person has a haemothorax also, you can't use this method because, blood and water would collect in chamber and fluid level will rise altering pressure differences I think. I'm not exactly clear about the reason here can anyone explain it.
3. So you use 3 way chamber. This is how I think it works
* During expiration air and fluid(eg blood) drain into tube.
* Fluid collects in collection tube, air goes to water seal
* Suction tube enhances the capacity to suck air. Can this system work without suction?
4. My question is what happens if you have a chamber with collection and water seal, but no suction. Then should the water seal tube be opened to the atomsphere, if not wouldn't the pressure increase causing fluid to flow back.
Thanks again smile.png
Edited by scilearner
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