Question

Differenriate the thee chambers of a chest tube

Answer 1

ANSWER:-

* A chest tube is a catheter inserted through the thorax to remove air and fluid from the pleural space, or to prevent air or fluid from entering the pleural space, or to reestablish normal intrapleural(within the pleural cavity) and intrapulmonic( within the lungs ) pressure.

* The traditional water seal chest tube has three chambers:

1)A Collection chamber - It acts as a reservoir for the fluid draining from the chest tube. The chest tube from the patient is connected to this collection chamber.

2) A water- seal chamber - Water - seal chamber serves as a one way valve - allowing air to escape from pleural space and prevent air from moving back into the chest when the patient inhale , thus maintaining a negative pressure.

* Normally in lungs During normal spontaneous inspiration the diaphragm contracts downward increasing intrathoracic volume and this simultaneously create a negative pressure inside from the outside.

* This is accomplished by maintaining a column of sterile water at 2-cm level in the water- seal chamber.

* There will be an increase in the water level with inspiration and return to baseline level during exhalation.this is called tidaling.

3) Suction control chamber- suction is applied to this chamber via the suction port. Minimal suction of 20 cm of water can be used. This helps to create negative pressure within the chambers and promote drainage of fluid and removal of air.

* The suction control chamber regulates the amount of negative pressure applied to the chest.

* A pisitive pressure valve is located at the top of the suction chamber that automatically opens with increase in positive pressure within the system.