How would you answer this question?
Which of the following is a component of a properly functioning chest drainage system?
a. Bubbling in the water seal
b. Tidaling in the collection chamber
c. Bubbling in the suction chamber
d. Tidaling in the suction chamber
The correct answer is "c" bubbling in the suction chamber.
A chest drainage system, such as a pleurovac, is attached to a chest tube to drain fluid, blood and air from the pleural space.The chest drainage system is composed of three chambers: 1) the suction control, 2) the water seal, and 3) the collection chamber. Many modern systems use a "dry" suction control with a dial to adjust suction instead of a water-filled chamber.
The suction chamber on a "wet" system is filled with fluid and the column of water is what controls the amount of suction that goes to the chest tube. The water in the suction control chamber bubbles if the wall suction is adequate. This is normal and expected.
The second chamber (water seal) acts as a one-way valve to allow air to flow out of the chest tube, but not back into the pleural space. The water seal moves (tidals) with the patient's respiration, but bubbling in this chamber is not normal and indicates an air leak. The chest tube, the insertion site and the collection device should all be checked to find the source of the leak. If the leak cannot be found, the patient may have air leaking out of the lung and into the pleural space. The physician should be notified.
The third chamber is the collection chamber that contains fluid that is removed from the patient. This chamber will neither bubble or tidal. Look for consistency in the drainage that is collected in the collection chamber. Changes in color, consistency, or volume should be reported to the physician.
Learn more about chest drainage with our
You Tube video .