Features of Carefusion Denver Pleurx Drainage Kit
- Simple Drainage Kit for self-draining at home
- You control when and where to drain
- Discreet dressing under clothes
- Catheter end stays outside, covered when not in use
- Safe and effective drainage
- Denver Pleurx gives quick relief
- Low infection rates (below 3%)
- Fewer hospital visits for draining procedures
What is a Denver Catheter?
Denver Catheter is a flexible and soft catheter that conforms to the pleural or peritoneal space and minimizes the insertion-site discomfort.
- The PleurX catheter is inserted in the chest for draining pleural effusions.
- The end of the catheter stays outside of the body, covered by a thin protective dressing while not in use.
- The PleurX catheter is inserted in the abdomen to drain malignant ascites. PleurX is discreet
When to use PleurX catheter?
- Intermittent, long-term drainage of recurrent, symptomatic, pleural effusion
- Malignant pleural effusion and other recurrent effusions which do not respond to medical management of the underlying disease
- Palliation of dyspnea due to pleural effusion
- Can be used in place of a chest tube to deliver talc slurry or bleomycin, giving an additional treatment option
PleurX System Technology:
- Vacuum bottle: Features active vacuum technology that allows for quick and comfortable drainage without any need for gravity.
- Proprietary safety valve: Prevents accidental passage of fluid or air through the catheter. It also minimizes the risk of misconnection that might otherwise occur with a standard luer connection.
- Polyester cuff: Securely holds the catheter in place and promotes tissue ingrowth to reduce the risk of infection.
- 15.5 Fr silicone catheter: Minimizes the insertion-site discomfort and conforms well to the pleural or peritoneal space.
- Beveled fenestrations: Smooth and large fenestrations with beveled edges help in promoting drainage and preventing occlusions.
How does the PleurX system work?
PleurX Drainage Kit includes a drainage catheter and drainage bottles that collect fluid. The catheter is inserted as a simple outpatient procedure, in the abdomen for draining malignant ascites or in the chest for pleural effusions. The catheter end stays outside the body, hidden under a bandage when not in use. To drain, just connect the catheter end to the drainage line on the bottle, following the PleurX drainage procedure directions for use, and then the bottle will automatically draw out the fluid.
What to buy with Pleurx Drainage Kit
How To Use Pleurx Drainage System?
Getting started:
Have all drainage supplies ready and then thoroughly wash hands.
- Open all packaging. Unfold blue wrapping. Place bottle near wrapping and lay access tip on blue wrapping.
- Pick up each glove by the wrist cuff and put both of them on.
- Tear open alcohol pads. Lay open alcohol pad pouches on blue wrapping a short distance from sterile items.
Connecting the drainage bottle:
Be sure to keep the end of the catheter and access tip clean.
- Close roller clamp completely by rolling the wheel on roller clamp toward bottle. Remove access tip cover by twisting and pulling gently. Set access tip on blue wrapping.
- Take valve cap off catheter.
- Clean around valve opening with first alcohol pad.
- Insert access tip into catheter valve.
Draining fluid:
Do not drain more than 1,000 mL from chest or 2,000 mL from abdomen at any one time.
- Remove support clip from top of drainage bottle and push down plunger.
- To begin draining, roll wheel on roller clamp away from vacuum bottle.
- When finished draining, completely close roller clamp by rolling wheel on roller clamp toward bottle.
Final steps and disposal:
If the user has any questions or concerns, contact the doctor or nurse.
- Pull access tip out of valve; set drainage line down.
- Clean around valve opening with second alcohol pad.
- Place new cap on catheter valve and twist it until it snaps into its locked position.
- Clean around catheter site with third alcohol pad.
- Place foam catheter pad around catheter and wind catheter on top of pad. Cover catheter with gauze pads.
- Apply self-adhesive dressing over gauze pads.
- Push down plunger and move plunger in a circular motion to further puncture foil seal so fluid can be poured out.
- Remove flexible cap and drainage line from bottle.
- Empty bottle into toilet. Place bottle in a plastic bag, seal tightly and discard.
Contraindications:
- When there is a shift greater than 2 cm in the mediastinum towards the ipsilateral side of the effusion
- When the pleural cavity is multi-loculated, and the drainage of a single loculation would not be expected to provide relief of dyspnea
- When there is a coagulopathy
- When the pleural cavity is infected
- When the effusion is known to be chylous
Warnings:
- Do not drain more than 1000 ml of fluid from chest or 2000 ml of fluid from abdomen at any one time
- It is normal to feel some discomfort or pain when draining fluid
- If discomfort or pain is experienced when draining, clamp the drainage line to slow or stop the flow of fluid for a few minutes
- If the user does not feel better after doing this or the pain is severe, contact the doctor or nurse
- Pain may be an indication of infection
- Keep the valve on the PleurX Catheter and the access tip on the drainage line clean
- Keep them away from other objects to help avoid contamination
- Do not use scissors or other sharp objects near the PleurX Catheter
- Do not put anything except the access tip of the drainage line into the PleurX Catheter valve since this could damage the valve
- A damaged valve may allow air into body or let fluid leak out through the valve when the user is not draining
Cautions:
- For single use only
- Re-use may result in a non-functional product or contribute to cross contamination
- Fluid collected in the drainage bottle is not sterile
- To ensure that fluid collected in the bottle does not flow back into the catheter, close the pinch clamp on the drainage line when finished draining
- Do not invert the bottle and hold it above catheter site
- The pinch clamp on the drainage line must be completely closed when not draining or the vacuum in the bottle may be lost
- Make sure that the valve and the access tip are securely connected when draining
- If they are accidentally separated, they may become contaminated and the vacuum in the bottle may be lost
- If this occurs, clean the valve with an alcohol pad and use a new drainage bottle to avoid potential contamination
Risks of the Pleural effusion drainage system:
- Chest: Potential complications of draining the pleural space include, but may not be limited to, pneumothorax, re-expansion pulmonary edema, hypotension, circulatory collapse and infection
- Abdomen: Potential complications of draining fluid from the abdomen include, but may not be limited to, hypotension, circulatory collapse, electrolyte imbalance, protein depletion, ascites leakage, peritonitis, wound infection and loculations of the peritoneal space.
