JP Drains 101
This type of drain uses negative pressure created by a bulb to remove fluid.
What is a Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain?
A Hemovac drain utilizes this mechanism for drainage.
What is a spring-loaded accordion-like container that expands to create suction?
This is the primary purpose of a chest tube.
What is to remove air, fluid, or blood from the pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand?
If a JP drain stops draining, this is the first thing you should check for.
What is kinks or obstructions in the tubing?
When documenting drain output, you must record this.
What is the amount, color, and consistency of the drainage?
The correct way to empty a JP drain is to open the port, do this, and then compress the bulb before closing.
What is empty the contents?
Unlike a JP drain, a Hemovac is typically emptied this often.
What is every 4-8 hours, or when it's half full?
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of a chest tube drainage system indicates this.
What is an air leak in the system or the patient?
Milking the tubing on a drain is done to resolve this problem
What is a possible clot?
You should document this related to the insertion site.
What is the condition of the skin around the drain (redness, swelling, drainage, etc.)?
This indicates that a JP drain bulb is functioning correctly.
What is a collapsed or compressed bulb?
To re-establish suction in a Hemovac after emptying, you must do this before closing the port
What is compress the container completely?
This should always be at the bedside of a patient with a chest tube.
What are sterile water or saline and a sterile occlusive dressing (e.g., petroleum gauze)?
If a patient reports increased pain or redness around the drain insertion site, this should be your primary concern.
What is a possible infection?
Documentation of drain output should be done on this flowsheet in EPIC.
What is the intake and output record?
You should report this characteristic of drainage from a JP drain to the physician immediately.
What is purulent, foul-smelling, or a sudden change in amount?
You should teach the patient to avoid doing this with their Hemovac drain.
What is kinking or pulling on the tubing?
You should instruct the patient with a chest tube to do this while you change the dressing.
What is to perform the Valsalva maneuver or hold their breath?
If the Hemovac continues to fill rapidly with blood, even after re-establishing suction, this may indicate this.
What is active bleeding?
You should also document this intervention performed on the JP drain
What is " bulb re-compressed"
This is how you should clean the JP drain insertion site.
What is using aseptic technique with sterile saline or prescribed solution, cleaning around the site in a circular motion?
Name a common surgical procedure in which a Hemovac drain might be used
What is a hip or knee replacement, mastectomy, or abdominal surgery?
The chest tube drainage system must be kept this position in relation to the patient.
What is below the level of the patient's chest?
If you suspect a drain is not functioning correctly, after checking for kinks and milking the tube, you should do this.
What is notify the physician?
If you observe a significant change in the amount, color, or consistency of drainage, or if the drain stops functioning, you must document this in addition to the objective findings.
What is that the physician or appropriate provider was notified, the time of notification, and any orders received?