Common Tubes, Lines, and Drains You'll Encounter:

3 Major Vascular Access Devices

Peripheral IV

Central Venous Catheter

Arterial Line

Peripheral IV (PIV): Use, Location, PT Considerations

Use: Medication, fluids, short-term use.

Location: Hand, arm.

PT Considerations: Avoid pulling; check for infiltration; typically doesn't restrict mobility.

Central Venous Catheter (CVC): Use, Location, PT Considerations

Use: Long-term meds, chemotherapy, TPN.

Location: Chest, neck, or arm.

PT Notes: Avoid BP on PICC side, no crutches under axilla with central line

Arterial Line (A-line): Use, Location, PT Considerations

Use: Continuous BP monitoring, arterial blood draws.

Location: Radial or femoral artery.

PT Notes: Transducer must be leveled at heart; avoid dislodging; femoral A-lines may restrict hip flexion.

4 Major Respiratory Tubes

Nasal Cannula / Face Mask / Non-Rebreather:

Tracheostomy:

Endotracheal Tube (ETT):

Chest Tube (Pleural Drain):

Chest Tube (Pleural Drain): Use and PT Notes

Use: Drain air/blood/fluid from pleural space.

PT Notes: Keep drainage system below chest level; don't tip it

Endotracheal Tube (ETT): Use and PT Notes

Use: Intubation, mechanical ventilation.

PT Notes: Usually indicates the patient is sedated or critical

Tracheostomy: Use and PT Notes

Use: Long-term ventilation or airway protection.

PT Notes: Secure before moving; know suctioning protocols; may affect speech/swallowing.

Nasal Cannula / Face Mask / Non-Rebreather: Use and PT Notes

Use: Supplemental oxygen.

PT Notes: Monitor O2 saturation

2 Types of Feeding Tubes and which one is used for short-term vs. long-term

Nasogastric Tube (NGT): Short-term feeding or drainage.

PEG/PEJ Tube: Long-term feeding. (Surgically placed in stomach/jejunum.)

3 Types of Urinary or GI Drainage Tubes/Connections and their use

Foley Catheter: Urine drainage.

Rectal Tube / Flexi-Seal: Fecal management.

Ostomies (Colostomy, Ileostomy): Bowel diversion.

Wound Vac (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy) Function

Promote wound healing.

Jackson-Pratt (JP) Function

Drain surgical sites.