Chest Tubes In Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Chest tubes (also called chest drainage tubes) are used to remove air, fluid, or blood from inside the chest. Your child may have air, fluid, or blood inside his chest because of an injury or illness. This may cause your child's lung to collapse.

Causes: Your child may need a chest tube for any of the following problems:

• Lung problems at birth.
  
  
• An injury to your child's chest.
  
  
• An infection in your child's chest.
  
  
• Surgery on your child's heart or lungs.

Signs and Symptoms: The following symptoms are caused by air, fluid, or blood inside your child's chest that pushes against the lung This causes problems with the way your child's lung works.

• Your child grunts with each breath.
  
  
• The skin between your child's ribs and on the neck is sucked in with each breath.
  
  
• The nostrils (openings in nose) open wide to get more air.
  
  
• Your child is restless, crying or irritable.
  
  
• Difficulty breathing.
  
  
• Sharp chest pain.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

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