Use of a Digital Air Leak Detection Device to Decrease Chest Tube Duration

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Thoracic surgery teams worldwide look for ways to impact chest tube duration. In 2018, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons published specialty-specific guidelines. Review of the guidelines revealed that chest drain management using a digital device for air leak detection was the one recommendation we were not routinely following. Plus, no standardized way of using the device existed. As an opportunity to incorporate the digital technology, an evidence-based practice project was performed at this institution and demonstrated, employment of a digital air leak detection device in patients who have undergone pulmonary lobectomy can remove interobserver variability and lead to quicker recognition of air leak cessation, earlier chest tube removal, a decrease in hospital LOS, and a lowering of overall costs.

Objectives

Identify three of the causes for a parenchymal air leak.
Describe the primary benefit of a digital air leak detection device when compared to a traditional analog device.
Describe the two primary outcomes achieved during this evidence based practice project using the digital air leak detection device.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity. Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.