31/07/2023
There are three chambers: drainage collection, water seal, and suction control.
🩸 DRAINAGE COLLECTION is the chamber connected to the patient. There should not be tidaling in the drainage collection chamber. You should monitor the fluid draining from the patient for color, odor, consistency, and amount. The fluid will look differently depending on why your client has a chest tube!
💦 WATER SEAL is the chamber that tells you the chest tube is 'sealed' - or air tight! That's why this is the chamber where we can see TIDALING (the movement of water up and down). It is normal for the water to rise during inspiration and fall during expiration. No tidaling? The chest tube might be obstructed. Or- the lung is fully re-expanded and the chest tube is no longer needed! We also need to monitor for bubbling to ensure the chest tube is sealed properly. Intermittent bubbling is expected, but vigorous bubbling indicates a leak!
🪫SUCTION CONTROL is the chamber connected to the wall suction. If you have a chest tube 'to water seal', then this chamber is not connected to anything- the system ends here! If it is connected to suction, monitor this chamber to ensure the suction is set at the appropriate level - usually -20 cm H2O.
