Pediatric Community

Hi, Julie,

Our pediatric ED (Level I Trauma Center with separate adult and pediatric EDs; all trauma alerts go to trauma area) does not have chest tubes on the crash cart. In our pediatric major rooms, we have wall shelves that contain both trocar style and pig-tail chest tubes. The trocars are separate, and staff use a re-usable chest tube tray stocked in the rooms. The pigtails come in a disposable tray with all components needed to insert. Drainage units are also kept in the major rooms. The system is similar in the trauma area. We almost always use pigtails now when a chest tube is needed, unless the patient has a need for more drainage ability.