Clinical audit
A regional survey of chest drains: evidence-based practice?
Augustine Tanga, Timothy Hoopera, Ragheb Hasanb
a Department of
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK, b Department of
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road,
Manchester M13 9WL, UK
Correspondence to: Mr Augustine Tang, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wessex Regional Thoracic & Cardiac Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6AQ, UK
Accepted 16 April
1999
Although the use of chest drains is common in medicine, there
appear to be wide variations in practice. A survey was therefore conducted to establish the current status of chest drain management in
the Northwest region. A questionnaire targeted consultants practising
in the specialties of chest medicine, general surgery, accident & emergency and cardiothoracic surgery. The questionnaire consisted of
five sections encompassing aspects of the insertion, day-to-day care
and removal of chest drains. With an overall response rate of 75.3%
(110/146), important variations in every major aspect of the practice
of chest drains were found between the specialties and to a large
extent within each specialty. We have made a number of recommendations
which aim to encourage good practice and reduce unnecessary
complications, including the adoption of standardised protocols for
inserting and managing chest drains.
Keywords: chest drains; clinical audit
© 1999 by The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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[Abstract] [Full Text] -
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