An enclosed system for continuous postoperative mediastinal aspiration.
Blockage of mediastinal drainage tubes in the postoperative cardiac surgical patient can result in tamponade, and the small child, with a necessarily small drainage tube, is particularly susceptible to instability arising from accumulating blood in the mediastinum. A system for continuous evacuation of blood in drainage tubes is described that decreases the likelihood of blocked tubes and resultant tamponade.
Jobes
D R
DR
Department of Anesthesia, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Nicolson
S C
SC
Pigott
J D
JD
Norwood
W I
WI
D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000517:prevention & control; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period