How will you assist a patient during a thoracentesis procedure?
Apply a small sterile dressing over the puncture site after the needle or catheter is removed. Monitor the patient’s vital signs, oxygen saturation, and breath sounds for several hours following the procedure. Check the dressing for drainage or bleeding. Report any abnormal findings to the health care provider.
How can complications of a thoracentesis be reduced?
Sitting upright and remaining still during the procedure helps to keep the liver and spleen away from the insertion area and minimizes the risk of this complication. Ultrasound imaging to guide placement of the thoracentesis needle also decreases the risk of these complications.
What nursing considerations are needed for a thoracentesis?
Thoracentesis Nursing Considerations
- Check the doctor’s order.
- Identify the client.
- Asked patient to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the test.
- Explain and emphasize the importance of the procedure.
- Inform that she will be experiencing mild pain on the site where the needle was pricked.
Do you need to be NPO for thoracentesis?
Thoracentesis and pleurx catheter patients do not need to be NPO as there is no risk for aspiration.
How do you assist lumbar puncture?
After the procedure
- Apply brief pressure to the puncture site.
- Place the patient flat on bed.
- Monitor vital signs, neurologic status, and intake and output.
- Monitor the puncture site for signs of CSF leakage and drainage of blood.
- Encourage increased fluid intake.
- Label and number the specimen tube correctly.
Which of the following is a contraindication against performing thoracentesis?
Relative contraindications to diagnostic thoracentesis include a small volume of fluid (< 1 cm thickness on a lateral decubitus film), bleeding diathesis or systemic anticoagulation, mechanical ventilation, and cutaneous disease over the proposed puncture site.