Lines, Tubes, and Alarms

Swan-Ganz Catheter

• pulmonary artery catheter

  • directly measures blood pressure by going through the R atrium

• precautions: take care around catheter site, limit motion in general region to no disturb site

Urinary Catheter - suprapubic, Foley, Condom

• designed to drain/evacuate bladder

• reduces the need to move pt (often post-op)

• precautions: avoid decubitus from tubing, drain as needed, avoid pulling or tugging on catheter

Sphygmomanometer

used to check BP (manual BP)

EKG/ECG leads

• monitors heart electrical activity

• non invasive; not too bad or complicated

• standard for pts with suspected heart conditions

Intravenous Line (IV): Peripheral IV

• most common

• delivers medication directly to veins

• used to administer medication, hydration and electrolytes

Intravenous Line (IV): Central IV

• delivers medication that could irritated blood vessel lining

• used to administer medication, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition

Peripherally Inserted Central Cather (PICC)

• central IV line that is inserted at a peripheral site and used for a prolonged period (>2 weeks)

  • chemotherapy

  • antibiotics

  • parenteral nutrition 

Arterial Line (A-line)

• diagnostic catheter inserted into an artery (typically radial, femoral, or brachial)

  • monitors BP in real time

  • obtain blood samples for arterial blood gas analysis

Chest Tubes

• tubes placed in the pleural space around the lungs

• chest tubes mitigate pleural-space 

• remove air and fluid from pleural space

• keep chest tube drainage unit below the level of the lungs

Ostomy Pouch

• collects waste products directly from the colon through a stoma

• use caution with gait belts

nasogastric tube (NG tube)

• nutrition and medication administration

• through the nose and into the stomach

gastric tube (G-tube) & Jejunostomy tube (J-tube)

inserted directly into stomach and jejunum 

intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC)

sequential compression devices, often used post surgically to prevent blood clots in the lower legs

bed alarms are used for…

• high fall risk

• high flight risk

external fixators

• used to externally fixate broken bones

• use caution not to disturb fixators

  • proper pad and support

  • do not grasp or pull the fixator

wound vac

• creates a negative pressure to remove exudate

• used primarily on heavily exudating wounds