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- Thopaz patient with his doctor and Thopaz thorax drainage system
Thorax patients no longer confined to bed
New device guarantees complete mobility
Ostercappeln, July 21st 2009.
Patients love it: a new device enables them to be more mobile after a thorax operation. In the past, they were confined to bed so that a stationary pump could remove air or liquids from between the lung surface and the pleura. Now, with the new mobile drainage system, they can even go for walks in the park of the St. Raphael Ostercappeln hospital, part of the Niels Stensen group of hospitals.
"We have acquired the small mobile thorax drainage pumps, as they offer many advantages for patients", says Chief of Medicine Dr Ludger Hillejan. "They enable patients to be more mobile and thus prevent thromboses and pneumonias. Patients regain their independence much sooner." Hillejan also pointed out the device's superior hygienic properties.
The brand-new thorax drainage system also facilitates the retrieval of up-to-date information relating to the course of the therapy and therefore also relieves doctors and nursing staff. The effort for nursing staff is significantly reduced, leaving more time for individual care. According to Hillejan, the device is so easy to use that patients can remove the pump from the charging station themselves and leave their bed: "In the past, they needed to call a nurse to do that, which many patients found awkward." Nursing staff can now take care of other tasks instead. A further benefit for patients is that the new system can be removed sooner, and patients can be discharged earlier. "We are delighted about the acquisition of the mobile pump, which means real progress for our patients and our facility", says Hillejan.
The new thorax drainage device also helped Alfons Gravelmann from Wietmarschen to become more mobile. Chief of Medicine Dr Ludger Hillejan: "The new pumps enable patients to be more mobile and thus prevent thromboses and pneumonias."