Chapter 10. Tubes and Devices
10.1 Introduction
Patients in acute care and community settings often have various tubes to assist their recovery from surgeries or procedures and to help manage medical conditions. Health care providers must understand how these tubes and devices work—their purpose, function, insertion, or removal—and how to manage them in a way that prevents complications.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe five principles related to the function of tubes and drainage systems.
- Identify four factors that affect the flow of fluid through tubes.
- Describe five general guidelines used while caring for patients with drainage systems.
- Discuss the purposes, types, special precautions, potential complications, and interventions when caring for persons with:
- Nasogastric tubes
- Indwelling catheters
- Closed chest drainage systems
- Tracheostomy tubes
