GI (Upper)
I am the most common feeding tube. I can be inserted in the nare or mouth. Sometimes I have a stylette, but not always.
What is an NG (Naso-Gastric) or OG (Oro-Gastric) tube?
For a bedrest only female, I am a less-invasive alternative to a foley or straight cath but tend to be more comfortable than a bedpan.
What is a Pure-Wick?
I look like a plastic straw, but you would never want to drink out of me.
What is a Penrose Drain?
In acute care, you document that I am present or often help the clinician remove me. If you need to use me, your patient should be in PICU.
What are Pacer Wires?
I use gravity to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of ventricles via a thin tube.
What is an EVD (External Ventricular Drain)?
I can be created from the ileum, jejunum, or colon. Where I am placed determines how much of a risk I typically pose to dehydration and malabsorption.
What is an ostomy?
Of all the feeding tubes, we are the two that are MOST likely to be bridled. We sometimes need to be placed under flouroscopy.
What are an NJ (Naso-Jejunal) tube or an ND (Naso-Duodenal) tube?
I am created from another body part, and I allow patients to straight cath through their abdominal wall.
What is an appendo-vesicostomy (or APV)
I rely on negative pressure to suction fluid or debris. You can use a syringe to empty me or drain me into a specimen cup, as long as you make sure you squeeze me tight when you are done.
What is a JP Drain? (Jackson-Pratt Bulb)
I am the smaller of the two main types of chest tubes, and I am ideal for decompressing air or very thin fluid.
What is a pigtail?
If you receive a patient with me from the PACU, page the pediatric pain service to make sure that they know I am on your floor.
What is an epidural?
I am the body's own [abnormal] version of a tube or tunnel. I often cause fluid to pass or drain into somewhere that it usually doesn't (including sometimes to the outside of the body) or can cause two fluids to mix that normally don't.
What is a fistula?
I measure gastric acidity. I usually stay in for about 24-hours.
What is a pH probe?
I am mostly on the inside, but you may see a string hanging outside. I can cause increased post-op pain compared to patients with urological surgery who don't have me.
What is a ureteral stent.
I am a closed-system, non-electric suction drain that can hold large volumes (250-450ml). Patients can go home with me.
What is a Hemovac?
I am a large-bore chest tube. I am useful for managing empyema.
What is a surgical chest tube?
I am shaped like a ball. I can help give you numbing relief for up to three days at home after surgery.
What is a Nerve Block with Pain Pump?
Thankfully these are not commonly used in pediatrics. I am basically a foley but for stool.
What is a rectal tube or a Flex-Seal?
We are the three main surgically placed feeding tubes.(Hint: individual and combo)
What are G-Tubes, J-Tubes, and G-J Tubes.
Placed near a patient's flank, I drain urine directly from the kidneys.
What is a Nephrostomy Tube?
A "PICO" is a small version of me. I require some form of power to create suction. My dressing can even be placed inside the body ("Endo-___").
What is a a Wound-Vac?
I am a type of chest tube used in cardiac surgery. I have multiple internal ports that can drain from the pleural and pericardial spaces simultaneously. Of all of the chest tubes, I am the only one that is routinely stripped.
What is a Blake drain?
If I malfunction, I require surgery. Signs to look for include:
Headaches, Vomiting, Lethargy, Irritability, Swelling or Redness in a line from neck to abdomen, Confusion, Seizures.
What is a VP Shunt?
I consider myself to be an enema door from above. I have a special metal connector (tip looks like a metal "L"), and I am often placed for patients with neurogenic bowels/Spina Bifida.
What is a Cecostomy or Chait tube.
If you want to annoy a DCH surgeon, leave my venting cap ON.
What is a Salem-Sump
While I am sometimes used as an umbrella term for several types of urology tubes, my true purpose is to direct urine away from a bladder that can't hold urine at all or has been removed. You can identify me because I require a drainage bag (instead of being accessed by a tube).
What is a urostomy?
When surgeons anticipate a very small amount of drainage, but still think that suction will benefit healing, I am a great option.
What is a TLS drain?
My output should be recorded frequently because if I get clogged, I can cause cardiac tamponade. Stripping me can also be potentially dangerous. For these reasons, I am not managed on acute care floors.
What is a pericardial drain?
What is the pneumatic tube system?
After surgery on the common bile duct, I am sometimes placed to allow for passive decompression of bile. My nickname comes from my physical shape, which looks like a letter of the alphabet.
What is a T-Tube or Biliary Drain?