Pleurx catheter Placement, Complications, Removal, Drainage

Pleurx catheter is a type of catheter placed in the chest area via making a hole in chest cavity, in order to drain the pleural fluid. This catheter is placed for long term in patients for discharging pleural fluid on daily basis or less frequent visiting outdoor patients. The pleurx catheter is a complete kit in which a drainage catheter is present along with drainage bottles which are used for the purpose of collecting pleural fluid. This can be done also at home, and it will take hardly about 5 to 15 min for complete drainage of pleural fluid.

Pleurx catheter Placement

       
The pleural catheter is placed in the chest cavity above abdomen to drain the excessive pleural fluid occurring again and again. Pleura is a thin membrane covering inside and outside of lungs. The pleurx catheter is a tunnel like long catheter which is inserted into the region of excessive pleural fluid or ascites. The fluid is then drain out of the lungs or the abdominal area. The hole is made surgically on to the surface of the chest through which the catheter is inserted inside and reaches up to the cavity filled with pleural fluid and quenches the fluid outside.

Pleurx catheter Placement, Complications, Removal, Drainage

Pleurx catheter Complications

         
The pleurx catheter is a useful method of draining excess fluid in the pleural cavity. But it also have some complications associated with it. Some of the main associated complications area as follows:

  • The pneumothorax may be a main complication associated with pleurx catheter.
  • Re expansion pulmonary edema can hinder the process.
  • Hypotension should be controlled first to perform the surgery and to remove the excess fluid.
  • During drainage, circulatory collapse may occur.
  • Due to the quality of catheter, the patient may have to suffer from an infection of the pleural space.
  • Cannot drain fluid more than 1000 ml at a time.


Pleurx catheter Removal

         
To remove the pleurx catheter, the proper practice is required and it should be done with great care. After the drainage is complete, the inserted tip of the pleurx catheter is pulled out from the cavity and again wrap it in the sterile wrapping. This should be done to maintain the sterility. In order to remove the drainage bottle, the drainage system should be in one hand and the catheter valve should be in other hand and remove the valve smoothly from the pleural cavity. The both hands should be gloved before removing.

Pleurx catheter Drainage

         
The purpose for which the pleural catheter was made is the drainage of the excessive pleural fluid and ascites from the body. The valve which is inserted inside the chest cavity or abdominal cavity is placed at the exact position of the fluid and the drainage bottle is kept outside to collect the fluid. When the fluid is drained into the bottle, the pleurx catheter is removed and close the opening of chest. The drainage is easy and can be performed at home. It will take hardly about 5 to 15 min to drain the complete fluid.
Pleurx catheter Placement, Complications, Removal, Drainage Pleurx catheter Placement, Complications, Removal, Drainage Reviewed by Simon Albert on June 16, 2017 Rating: 5
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