The nurse is caring for a patient who was recently treated for an empyema that developed secondary to pneumonia. Which procedure does the nurse prepare the patient to decrease recurrence once the empyema has been drained?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pleurodesis is a procedure used to obliterate the pleural space to prevent the recurrence of pleural effusions or pneumothorax, and it can be used after an empyema has been drained to decrease the chance of recurrence. It involves the introduction of a substance (such as talc) into the pleural space to cause inflammation and fibrosis, which binds the lung to the chest wall.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Was Recently