| A | B |
|---|
| water seal chamber | allows for air to move from the pleural space into the drainage system but not back into the chest |
| tidaling or oscillating | water moves up as the client inhales and moves down as the client exhales (normal finding) |
| bubbling in water seal chamber | indicates an air leak fro the lung or bronchus |
| two reasons for chest tubes | to return negative pressure to the intrapleural space; to remove abnormal accumulations of air and fluids from the pleural space |
| bubbling in the suction control chamber | indicates there is suction but does not indicate air from the pleural space |
| chest tube dressing | occlusive, sterile, petroleum-based at chest tube site |
| CXR | determines position of tube; determines re-expansion of lung |
| place drainage system here | below the level of the lungs |
| excessive drainage | over 100ml/hr |
| This will cause the fluctuation in the water seal chamber to stop | tube is obstructed; dependent loop; suction not working properly; lung has re-expanded |
| necessary for mobilization of secretions within the lung | coughing and deep breathing; change in position |
| keep at bedside of the patient with a chest tube | padded clamp ( preferably 2) and sterile occlusive dressing |
| drainage output | mark directly on canister ever 1-4 hours or as ordered |
