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Ann Thorac Surg 1986;42:77-80
© 1986 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Articles

Is Milking and Stripping Chest Tubes Really Necessary?

From the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI

Accepted for publication November 4, 1985.

^* Address reprint requests to Ms. Lim-Levy, Department of Nursing, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Fort Meade, SD 57741

	Abstract

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The purpose of this study was to determine if chest tubes that are not milked or stripped occlude more frequently than milked or stripped tubes, and if the amount of drainage varies according to the treatment of the tubes. Following coronary artery bypass graft procedures, 49 male subjects had their chest tubes milked every 2 hours, had them stripped every 2 hours, or served as controls (i.e., their tubes were neither milked nor stripped). An analysis of variance was applied to the results. There was no significant difference in total drainage volume, hourly zero drainage, heart rate, or occurrence of arrhythmias among the three groups of subjects. Four to 16 hours postoperatively, a significantly higher volume of drainage occurred in the subjects whose chest tubes had been stripped. Stripping is particularly discouraged during this interval. The chest tubes remained patent with or without milking or stripping. We conclude that neither milking nor stripping is necessary for the proper care of chest tubes. We recommend that tubes be positioned such that they promote continuous drainage.

	Footnotes

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Portions of this article were presented at the Research Conference, Wisconsin Nurses Association, Oshkosh, WI, Oct 21, 1983.

Supported in part by the Veterans Administration.

We acknowledge with gratitude the assistance and advice of Dr. Audrey Chang, James Stephens, Mary Collet, Carol Steinhart, and most of all, the SICU nursing staff.

	References

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10. Von Hippel A. Chest Tubes and Chest Bottles. Springfield, IL: Thomas; 1970. pp. 29.
11. Duncan C, Erickson R. Pressures associated with chest tube stripping Heart Lung 1982;11:166.[Medline]

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lim-Levy, F. Articles by Kroncke, G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lim-Levy, F. Articles by Kroncke, G. M.