NRSG 301 Chest Tubes: – Questions With Complete
Solutions
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Terms in this set (58)
How do the pressures inside the thoracic - Negative pressure keeps lungs expanded
cavity change as a person breathes in and - The surface tension of the pleural fluid with the vacuum
out? pressure caused by the pulling action of the diaphragm is
what keeps lungs expanded.
- There is negative pressure in the pleural cavity.
- The degree of negativity changes during respiration
- During inspiration, intrapleural vacuum pressure is
approximately -8cmH20 (negative)
- During expiration, the diaphragm relaxes and alveolar
pressure is now -4cmH20
- With deep inspiration, intrapleural vacuum pressures can be
even more negative.
Parietal pleura outer layer of pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall
Visceral pleura membrane that covers the lungs
Pneumothorax - When chest cavity is entered by injury/surgery, the vacuum is
lost and air can enter causing lungs to collapse. As air enters,
the lung can't fully expand and the patient will experience
pain and difficulty in breathing
Hemothorax - Blood in pleural space.
- Can be caused by trauma and/or surgery
Pleural effusion Fluid in the pleural cavity.
- Caused by HF, surgery and possibly malignancy
Tension pneumothorax - Air continues to leak into the pleural space. Air increases with
each inspiration and as it gets worse the involvement of the
other lung can also become an issue.
- As pressure continues to rise, it causes a mediastinal shift
which means it causes the entire mediastinal area including
the heart, aorta, bronchial tree and other structures to be
pushed toward unaffected side.
- This reduces size of unaffected lung chamber and makes
breathing difficult
, How is the amount of suction regulated on a - Ordered by a physician
chest drain? - Begin with wall suction at -80mmHg and adjust until the
suction bellows expands to mark or beyond for -20 cmH20 or
higher
Disposable chest drain chambers - Collection chamber
- Water seal chamber
- Suction control
Why would a chest tube be placed in the Inserted during cardiothoracic surgery
mediastinal space?
Water seal chamber purpose - Allows air to pass down through a narrow channel and
bubble out through the bottom of the water seal. Since air
myst not return to the patient, a water seal is one of the safest
and cost-effective means for protecting the patient in addition
to being a very useful diagnostic tool.
What does it mean if the nurse sees - Excessive, continuous bubbling may indicate a large air leak
constant bubbling in the water seal in the system
chamber?
Tidalling Normal rise up and down of water level in water seal chamber
as patient breathes
What are the 9 assessment steps when 1. Check dressing
caring for a patient with a chest drainage 2. Check tubing
system? 3. Don't strip/milk the tubing
4. Check drainage - amount and type
5. Check for bubbling in the system
6. Check for tidalling
7. Check water levels in the seal
8. Check tubing patency the full length of the tubing and all
connections
9. Safety - are there clamps at the bedside?
10. Check for air leaks
11. Is patient on suction or gravity
12. Check bellows within the window to assess proper level of
suction
Why is a nurse concerned when a patient - Can indicate a severe change in client status, such as
develops subcutaneous emphysema? excessive blood loss or a tension pneumothorax
In regard to chest tube drainage, what - Amount
assessment data does a nurse need to - Color
report to the physician? - Type
- Consistency
- Increase in bright red drainage
- Drainage greater than 100mL/hr
- Sudden decrease/absence of drainage
- Change in characteristics of chest drainage
Solutions
Save
Students also studied
WSC 2026: Are we there yet? Social Science Nationalism Vocab T... WSC 2026 Next Year
Teacher 156 terms 21 terms Teacher 50 terms
Amy_Woodall4 Preview Keiya_Raja Preview Sandywu1205
Terms in this set (58)
How do the pressures inside the thoracic - Negative pressure keeps lungs expanded
cavity change as a person breathes in and - The surface tension of the pleural fluid with the vacuum
out? pressure caused by the pulling action of the diaphragm is
what keeps lungs expanded.
- There is negative pressure in the pleural cavity.
- The degree of negativity changes during respiration
- During inspiration, intrapleural vacuum pressure is
approximately -8cmH20 (negative)
- During expiration, the diaphragm relaxes and alveolar
pressure is now -4cmH20
- With deep inspiration, intrapleural vacuum pressures can be
even more negative.
Parietal pleura outer layer of pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall
Visceral pleura membrane that covers the lungs
Pneumothorax - When chest cavity is entered by injury/surgery, the vacuum is
lost and air can enter causing lungs to collapse. As air enters,
the lung can't fully expand and the patient will experience
pain and difficulty in breathing
Hemothorax - Blood in pleural space.
- Can be caused by trauma and/or surgery
Pleural effusion Fluid in the pleural cavity.
- Caused by HF, surgery and possibly malignancy
Tension pneumothorax - Air continues to leak into the pleural space. Air increases with
each inspiration and as it gets worse the involvement of the
other lung can also become an issue.
- As pressure continues to rise, it causes a mediastinal shift
which means it causes the entire mediastinal area including
the heart, aorta, bronchial tree and other structures to be
pushed toward unaffected side.
- This reduces size of unaffected lung chamber and makes
breathing difficult
, How is the amount of suction regulated on a - Ordered by a physician
chest drain? - Begin with wall suction at -80mmHg and adjust until the
suction bellows expands to mark or beyond for -20 cmH20 or
higher
Disposable chest drain chambers - Collection chamber
- Water seal chamber
- Suction control
Why would a chest tube be placed in the Inserted during cardiothoracic surgery
mediastinal space?
Water seal chamber purpose - Allows air to pass down through a narrow channel and
bubble out through the bottom of the water seal. Since air
myst not return to the patient, a water seal is one of the safest
and cost-effective means for protecting the patient in addition
to being a very useful diagnostic tool.
What does it mean if the nurse sees - Excessive, continuous bubbling may indicate a large air leak
constant bubbling in the water seal in the system
chamber?
Tidalling Normal rise up and down of water level in water seal chamber
as patient breathes
What are the 9 assessment steps when 1. Check dressing
caring for a patient with a chest drainage 2. Check tubing
system? 3. Don't strip/milk the tubing
4. Check drainage - amount and type
5. Check for bubbling in the system
6. Check for tidalling
7. Check water levels in the seal
8. Check tubing patency the full length of the tubing and all
connections
9. Safety - are there clamps at the bedside?
10. Check for air leaks
11. Is patient on suction or gravity
12. Check bellows within the window to assess proper level of
suction
Why is a nurse concerned when a patient - Can indicate a severe change in client status, such as
develops subcutaneous emphysema? excessive blood loss or a tension pneumothorax
In regard to chest tube drainage, what - Amount
assessment data does a nurse need to - Color
report to the physician? - Type
- Consistency
- Increase in bright red drainage
- Drainage greater than 100mL/hr
- Sudden decrease/absence of drainage
- Change in characteristics of chest drainage
