The nurse is caring for a client who has a small pneumothorax and is capable of being ambulatory. Which prescription should the nurse anticipate when caring for this client?

Question

1. Chest tube placed in the upper chest on the side of the pneumothorax
2. Chest tube placed in the lower chest on the side of the pneumothorax
3. Heimlich chest drain valve in the upper chest on the side of the pneumothorax
4. Heimlich chest drain valve in the lower chest on the side of the pneumothorax

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: Placement of the chest tube would be lower in the chest because blood falls to the lowest point secondary to gravity.
Rationale 2: Because air rises, the chest drain would be placed in the upper chest.
Rationale 3: Because air rises, the chest drain would be placed in the upper chest. Because the client is ambulatory and the pneumothorax is small, a Heimlich chest drain valve could be used to allow the client to move about more easily.
Rationale 4: Because air rises, the chest drain would be placed in the upper chest.
Global Rationale: Because air rises, the chest drain would be placed in the upper chest. Because the client is ambulatory and the pneumothorax is small, a Heimlich chest drain valve could be used to allow the client to move about more easily. The valve would not be used if the client had a hemothorax, and placement of the chest tube would be lower in the chest because blood falls to the lowest point secondary to gravity.