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Thoracic Surgery. Overview. What is it ? What do you need to know as a nurse on the ward ?. What do you need to know as a nurse on the ward ?. Different pathologies Different operations Chest drains Post operative care. Different pathologies. Lung cancer Pneumothorax Pleural effusions
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Overview • What is it ? • What do you need to know as a nurse on the ward ?
What do you need to know as a nurse on the ward ? • Different pathologies • Different operations • Chest drains • Post operative care
Different pathologies • Lung cancer • Pneumothorax • Pleural effusions • Lung biopsies • Trauma • Oddities
Different operations • Bronchoscopy (oesophagoscopy) • Mediasteinoscopy • Mediasteinotomy / Chamberlains • Thoracoscopy VATS • Mini thoracotomy • Full thoracotomy • Pneumonectomy / Lobectomy / Wedge
Anatomy • Trachea • 2 bronchi • 2 Lungs • 2 lobes on left • 3 lobes on right
Lung cancer • Small cell • Non small cell • Squamous • Adeno • Large cell • Undifferentiated
Lung cancer • Except for small cell carcinoma of the lung it is generally accepted that surgery is the most effective therapy for lung carcinoma
Assessment of Patient • Fitness for surgery • Operability of the tumour - Staging
Staging • TNM • T size and position of tumour • N lymph node status • M metastasis
Stages • Stage Grouping—TNM Subsets • Stage 0 (TisN0M0) • Stage IA (T1N0M0) • Stage IB (T2N0M0) • Stage IIA (T1N1M0) • Stage IIB (T2N1M0, T3N0M0) • Stage IIIA (T3N1M0), (T(1–3)N2M0) • Stage IIIB (T4, Any N, M0) (Any T, N3M0) • Stage IV (Any T, Any N, M1)
Fitness for Surgery • Age • Pulmonary function • Cardiovascular function • Medical conditions • Nutritional Status • Performance status
Assessment of Operability • CT scan • Bone scan • PET scan • Mediastinoscopy • Anterior Mediastinotomy • VATS
Pleural effusions • Fluid in chest • Due to underlying cause • Usually malignant, but what ? • Drain for • Symptoms • Diagnosis
Pneumothorax • What is a pneumothorax ? • How do you treat them ? • Who requires surgery ? • What does surgery entail ? • Thoracotomy • Sternotomy • Mini thoracotomy • VATS
Lung biopsies • Need tissue to diagnose “Interstitial lung disease”
Thoracotomy Posterolateral Lateral Anterolateral Mini thoracotomy
Mini thoracotomy • Small incision thoracotomy
Lung Resection • Pneumonectomy • Lobectomy • Wedge
Lung Resection – Pneumonectomy Intrapericardial Extrapericardial No reserve Sputum pO2 Fluid balance Infiltrates Temperature AF
Lung Resection – Lobectomy 3 Lobes on RT RUL RML RLL (not RUL & RLL) 2 lobes on LT LUL LLL
Chest drains • What are they ? • Why use them ? • Suction and its role • What drain do you take out MARK IT
Function • Conduit to remove fluid or air from the pleural or pericardial spaces • The fluid may be blood, pus or pleural effusion • Allow the lungs and heart to work unrestricted
Spaces That Need Draining Following Thoracic Surgery • Only a single pleural cavity opened • Air and blood may collect in the space • Two drains • Apical drain – Air • Basal drain – Blood • Traditionally apical drain is placed anteriorly and basal drain at the back
Suction • What does it do? • Makes the external pressure negative • Air or blood drains more easily out of chest Dangers • If on to high tissues may get sucked into the drain damaging them • If connected but not on similar effect to clamping the drains • BEWARE PNEUMONECTOMY
Does and Don’ts of Chest Drains • Do not clamp a functioning drain as this can lead to a tamponade or a tension pneumothorax • If becomes disconnected, reconnect and ask patient to cough • Always keep drain below level of patient • If raised above patient the contents may siphon back into the chest
On Expiration • Pleural pressures at their highest • But still less than atmospheric pressure • Difficult to hold breath at full expiration • Natural reaction to pain is to take a deep breath in