The nurse is teaching a student nurse danger signs to monitor in a person with a chest tube. Which of the following accurately describes these signs? Select all that apply

Question

A) Bubbling in the control bottle
B) Air leak at the insertion site
C) Devices located below the level of tube insertion
D) Signs of cyanosis or dyspnea
E) Complaints of chest pain
F) Absence of air streaming into the drainage system

Answer 1

B, D, E
Feedback:
Air leaks can occur at the insertion site of the chest tube, in connections, in the bottles, or in the stoppers in three-bottle suction or in the closed drainage system itself. If the client shows signs of cyanosis or dyspnea, or complains of chest pain, the nurse should investigate the situation immediately, because this is an emergency. If bubbling in the control bottle stops, the suction pressure is too low. The nurse should keep all tubes, bags, and other devices below the level of tube insertion to prevent reflux.
Air should not be streaming into the drainage system.