- February 1, 2022
Caring For Your Thoracic Vent Tube
A thoracic vent is a small device that’s connected to your chest. It has a one-way valve with a self-sealing port and a small catheter (thin, flexible tube) that lets extra air out of your chest. It lets your lung fully expand. The vent is secured to your chest with adhesive wings.
You can also get the placement of the thoracic vent chest tube from https://www.centese.com/cardiac-surgery/.It may also be sutured (stitched) in place. You may be discharged from the hospital with a thora-vent if you have an air leak that lasts for 7 or more days.
Image Source: Google
Here are some tips on how to care for your thoracic vent:
- Your Thora-Vent should touch your body directly. No part of the catheter (tube) should be visible. If your catheter is visible, call your healthcare provider right away.
- If the adhesive wings start to separate from your skin, use tape to secure them in place. Don’t put tape on the chamber.
- Don’t change the position or remove your vent at any time. If your vent moves out of place, call your healthcare provider right away. In the meantime, you can put the Vaseline® gauze that your nurse gave you over the site with clean, dry gauze on top of it. Tape them to your skin.
