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If a pneumothorax is present and the client has a chest tube, what type of bubbling would be expected in the water chamber?

a. Tiny bubbles
b. Intermittent
c. Constant
d. No bubbling

User Ameed
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber would be expected when a patient with pneumothorax has a chest tube, with the bubbling stopping as the condition resolves.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient has a pneumothorax and a chest tube is in place, the type of bubbling that would be expected in the water seal chamber is intermittent bubbling. This type of bubbling occurs as air is evacuated from the pleural space. When the lung re-expands and no more air leaks are present, the bubbling should cease, indicating a resolution of the pneumothorax. Continuous bubbling could indicate a problem, such as a leak in the chest tube system, while no bubbling might mean that there is no airflow through the tube, which can occur if the lung has re-expanded or the tube is obstructed.

User Helgi
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