The nurse is caring for a patient with a closed-chest drainage system with chest tubes. Which observation confirms that the system is intact and working?
a. The water level in the water-seal chamber fluctuates.
b. The level of fluid in the collection cham-ber rises.
c. There are constant bubbles in the wa-ter-seal chamber.
d. The suction has been attached.
A
If the level of the water in the water-seal chamber rises and falls with the patient's respiration, the system is intact. Constant bubbles in the water-seal chamber indicate a leak in the system. The fluid in the collection container drains by gravity whether the closed-chest drainage system is intact or not. Suction is not significant with respect to whether the system is intact.
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