Patients' experiences of having an underwater seal chest drain: a replication study

The nursing management of patients who have a chest drain in situ has recei ved little attention. The findings of a single small-scale study previously indicated that such p atients' needs for information are not always fully met and pain control is inadequate. This small-scale study was replicated to produce broadly similar findings i n a second hospital 2 years later. Despite some differences in the approach to management it was apparent that patients were still not well prepared pre-operatively and there was scope for improving pain control. All the patients reported considerable discomfort and pain of moderate to s evere intensity. The type of pain described is typical of deep somatic/visc eral pain.