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Use of the Heimlich Flutter Valve for Chest Drainage in Battle Casualties
Author(s) -
Fox Bruce
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1967.tb04000.x
Subject(s) - medicine , drainage , battle , surgery , flutter , medical emergency , ecology , engineering , aerodynamics , history , aerospace engineering , archaeology , biology
In military surgery, the Heimlich flutter valve has the following advantages over underwater drainage that make it a valuable device in forward surgical units: I. The patient is ambulatory very quickly, because the valve functions in any position and the tubing drains into a plastic bag. Thus, the patient can walk while the chest drainage is still functioning and attend his own toilet, etc. Chest X‐ray films can be taken in the X‐ray department, and the tubing need not be clamped. 2. The technique is easily understood by the staff, and less frequent nursing attention is required. This is a very important point for a tired surgical team. 3. The apparatus is sterile as packaged, and is disposable.