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Surgical Intervention of The Respiratory System!

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Surgical Intervention of The Respiratory System!

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Draining of the lung can be instrumental in treating fluid build up in the lungs, as well as air that has built up in the area due to trauma as well! Can be due to trauma, cancer, infection and more.

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A chest drain empties air, blood or fluid from the space surrounding your lungs, called the pleural space.

What is a chest drain?
Why do I need a chest drain?
What are the risks of having a chest drain?
How do I prepare for a chest drain?
What happens during a chest drain procedure?
What happens after a chest drain procedure?

What is a chest drain?

A chest drain procedure (or pleural drain procedure) drains air, blood or fluid through a tube that is inserted into the space surrounding your lungs, called the pleural space.

Why do I need a chest drain?

Fluid or air can build up in the pleural space after surgery or when there is inflammation, infection or a traumatic injury to the lungs. Sometimes, air can build up quickly for no clear reason. This is known as a spontaneous pneumothorax.

You may need a chest drain if you have any of the following conditions:

You may also need a chest drain before or after lung surgery.

Below, you can watch a short video from one of our doctors explaining more about chest drains.

Below, you can watch an animation explaining what happens during a chest drain procedure.

What are the risks of having a chest drain?

Risks of having a chest drain are rare and can include:

Bleeding - a small amount of bleeding can occur if a blood vessel is damaged when the chest tube is inserted

Infection - the use of sterile tools during the procedure helps reduce this risk

Injury - the lung, diaphragm or stomach may be injured during the procedure

Pain during the procedure - your doctor will give you pain relief medication

Problems with the drainage system - there could be a kink in tubing, leaking drain or a displaced tube

Surgical emphysema - when air escapes into spaces under the skin.

How do I prepare for a chest drain?

Chest drains are mostly inserted during an emergency or after surgery, so often there's no way to prepare.

You may need some tests before the procedure, including:

What happens during a chest drain procedure?

During a chest drain procedure:

You will be lying on a bed, slightly up and to the side, with one arm raised above your head (sometimes you may be positioned sitting upright and leaning forward)

Your doctor will clean the area where the tube will be inserted

You will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area

The doctor will make a small cut between the ribs. The cut is usually made between the 5th and 6th rib - in line with the nipple, and slightly in front of the armpit on the affected side

The doctor will then, very gently, guide a plastic tube into the pleural space

The doctor may apply a stitch and dressing to keep the tube in place

The tube will be attached to a one-way drainage system that only allows air and fluid to flow out from the pleural space to help expand your lung

When all excess fluid or air is drained from the pleural space, and the lung is fully expanded, the tube can be removed.

The chest tube usually stays in for a few days - during this time, you will remain in the hospital. Sometimes your drain will be attached to suction on the wall which may limit your movement away from your bed.

Removing the chest drain

When your doctor is sure that no more fluid or air needs to be drained, the chest tube will be removed. Removing the drain can cause some brief discomfort, and you will be given pain relief before the tube is removed.

Your doctor will remove the stitch holding the tube in place and ask you slowly breathe in and out for a few breaths. You will need to hold your breath while your nurse quickly removes the drain and applies a dressing to seal the cut.

What happens after a chest drain procedure?

After your procedure, you will have an X-ray to make sure that there is no more excess fluid or air in the space surrounding your lungs.

When you return home, you may notice some pain from the cut in your chest. The pain should go away in 1-2 weeks. You will need to see your doctor a few days after your procedure to remove the dressing. Your wound may take up to 4 weeks to heal completely, and it may leave a small scar.

You should also call your doctor if you:

Are coughing up blood

Are having trouble breathing

Have a fever

Have any redness, swelling or any discharge from the insertion site.

If you are planning air travel after your procedure, you will need to speak with your medical team. Airlines have guidelines to assess your fitness to fly. You can view these guidelines in our travel section.

You will also need to speak with your medical team before participating in activities such as scuba diving or contact sports.

Finally, always contact your doctor or a member of your medical team if you ever have questions about your procedure or recovery.

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A chest drain empties air, blood or fluid from the space surrounding your lungs, called the pleural space. What is a chest drain? Why do I need a chest drain? What are the risks of having a chest drain? How do I prepare for a chest drain?

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Upper Respiratory Tract Includes:
Nasal Cavity, Pharynx, Sinuses, and Larynx!

Lower Respiratory Tract Includes:
Trachea, Lungs, Bronchi, Diaphragm!

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The respiratory system, which includes air passages, pulmonary vessels, the lungs, and breathing muscles, aids the body in the exchange of gases between the air and blood, and between the blood and the body's billions of cells. Most of the organs of the respiratory system help to distribute air, but only the tiny, grape-like alveoli and the alveolar ducts are responsible for actual gas exchange.

In addition to air distribution and gas exchange, the respiratory system filters, warms, and humidifies the air you breathe. Organs in the respiratory system also play a role in speech and the sense of smell.

The respiratory system also helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance among the many elements of the body's internal environment.

The respiratory system is divided into two main components:

Upper respiratory tract: Composed of the nose, the pharynx, and the larynx, the organs of the upper respiratory tract are located outside the chest cavity.

Nasal cavity: Inside the nose, the sticky mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity traps dust particles, and tiny hairs called cilia help move them to the nose to be sneezed or blown out.

Sinuses: These air-filled spaces along side the nose help make the skull lighter.

Pharynx: Both food and air pass through the pharynx before reaching their appropriate destinations. The pharynx also plays a role in speech.

Larynx: The larynx is essential to human speech.

Lower respiratory tract: Composed of the trachea, the lungs, and all segments of the bronchial tree (including the alveoli), the organs of the lower respiratory tract are located inside the chest cavity.

Trachea: Located just below the larynx, the trachea is the main airway to the lungs.

Lungs: Together the lungs form one of the body's largest organs. They're responsible for providing oxygen to capillaries and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Bronchi: The bronchi branch from the trachea into each lung and create the network of intricate passages that supply the lungs with air.

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle that contracts and relaxes to allow air into the lungs.

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Respiratory System Anatomy, Diagram & Function | Healthline

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The respiratory system, which includes air passages, pulmonary vessels, the lungs, and breathing muscles, aids the body in the exchange of gases between the air and blood, and between the blood and the body's billions of cells.

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"Your respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. This system helps your body absorb oxygen from the air so your organs can work. It also cleans waste gases, such as carbon dioxide, from your blood." - ClevelandClinic.org

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What are the parts of the respiratory system?

The respiratory system has many different parts that work together to help you breathe. Each group of parts has many separate components.

Your airways deliver air to your lungs. Your airways are a complicated system that includes your:

Mouth and nose: Openings that pull air from outside your body into your respiratory system.

Sinuses: Hollow areas between the bones in your head that help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air you inhale.

Pharynx (throat): Tube that delivers air from your mouth and nose to the trachea (windpipe).

Trachea: Passage connecting your throat and lungs.

Bronchial tubes: Tubes at the bottom of your windpipe that connect into each lung.

Lungs: Two organs that remove oxygen from the air and pass it into your blood.

From your lungs, your bloodstream delivers oxygen to all your organs and other tissues.

Muscles and bones help move the air you inhale into and out of your lungs. Some of the bones and muscles in the respiratory system include your:

Diaphragm: Muscle that helps your lungs pull in air and push it out.

Ribs: Bones that surround and protect your lungs and heart.

When you breathe out, your blood carries carbon dioxide and other waste out of the body. Other components that work with the lungs and blood vessels include:

Alveoli: Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

Bronchioles: Small branches of the bronchial tubes that lead to the alveoli.

Capillaries: Blood vessels in the alveoli walls that move oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Lung lobes: Sections of the lungs - three lobes in the right lung and two in the left lung.

Pleura: Thin sacs that surround each lung lobe and separate your lungs from the chest wall.

Some of the other components of your respiratory system include:

Cilia: Tiny hairs that move in a wave-like motion to filter dust and other irritants out of your airways.

Epiglottis: Tissue flap at the entrance to the trachea that closes when you swallow to keep food and liquids out of your airway.

Larynx (voice box): Hollow organ that allows you to talk and make sounds when air moves in and out.

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Respiratory System: Functions, Facts, Organs & Anatomy

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The respiratory system is the network that helps you breathe and smell, absorbing oxygen and cleaning waste gases so that the organs can work.

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Spirometry - "You breathe in and out as hard as you can through a tube, and your doctor measures how much air goes in and out of your lungs. It can help diagnose conditions that affect how much air your lungs can hold, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)."

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Here are a few lung tests your doctor can do to figure out what's behind your breathing trouble.

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Asthma, COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Lung Cancer, and more...

Asthma is a "common, chronic respiratory condition that causes difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the airways."

COPD "is an umbrella term that encompasses several respiratory illnesses that cause breathlessness, or the inability to exhale normally."

Chronic Bronchitis "is a form of COPD emphasized by a chronic cough."

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Top 8 Respiratory Illnesses and Diseases

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Some people are genetically more likely to get respiratory conditions, but your work place or environmental exposures can play a big role. Learn from a pulmonologist the top eight respiratory system illnesses and offers advice for avoiding them.

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What does Bradypnea mean?

Answer: Breathing slower than 12 breaths per minute!

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What term means inflammation of the pleura?

Answer: Pleuritis

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What does Pneumatic mean?

Answer: Pertaining to respiration of air!