Question

A client's chest tube drainage device has continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What is the nurse checking for when she clamps different areas of the tube to find out where the bubbling stops?

An air leak in the system
The suction being too high
The suction being too low
A tension pneumothorax

Answer 1

The nurse checks for an air leak in the chest tube drainage system by clamping different sections and observing changes in the bubbling. Identifying and fixing air leaks is essential to maintain negative pressure in the thoracic cavity for proper lung expansion.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse observes continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber of a client's chest tube drainage device, they are concerned about an air leak in the system. By clamping different areas of the tube and noting where the bubbling stops, the nurse can pinpoint the location of the leak. The presence of an air leak indicates that air is escaping from the chest cavity into the drainage system, which can interfere with the maintenance of a negative pressure that is essential for proper lung expansion.

The lungs are normally held open by a negative pressure in the pleural space, ranging from -4 to -8 mm Hg during exhalation and inhalation. If air enters the chest cavity, such as from a leak, it can cause lung collapse. This is why maintaining an airtight system in chest drainage is vital to ensure proper lung inflation, particularly after surgery or trauma.