Chest Tubes and Ventilator Alarms

This flashcard set covers the physiology of breathing, chest tube setup and management, nursing interventions for tension pneumothorax, and ventilator alarm troubleshooting.

Chest tube

A one-way drain that allows fluids or air to escape the pleural space.

Negative pressure

The mechanism of inhalation where the diaphragm contracts, rib muscles move out, lungs expand, and pressure inside the lungs drops to suck air in.

Tension pneumothorax

A condition where air is trapped between the lung and the chest wall, creating a one-way valve; causes can include trauma, surgery, or falls.

Trachea deviation

A classic sign of a tension pneumothorax that indicates a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

Needle Decompression

A treatment for tension pneumothorax involving insertion into the $2nd$ intercostal space.

Collection chamber

The part of a chest tube setup that collects fluid or blood exiting the pleural space; notify HCP if drainage is bright red or greater than $100\,ml/hr$.

Water Seal chamber

The chamber that allows air to exit the pleural space during exhalation; tidaling in this chamber is a positive sign.

Suction Control chamber

The chamber that regulates and indicates the amount of suction applied to the client.

Broken water seal intervention

In the event of a broken seal, place the distal end of the chest tube in $2\,cm$ of sterile water.

Occlusive dressing

A dressing covered with petroleum jelly on both sides, used at the chest tube insertion site.

3-sided taping

The technique of taping an occlusive dressing on three sides to allow air to escape and prevent a tension pneumothorax if a tube is accidentally removed.

High alarm (Ventilator)

An alarm caused by an obstruction such as mucous, blockage, or the patient biting the tube, requiring high pressure to deliver oxygen.

Low alarm (Ventilator)

An alarm caused by a disconnection or an air leak where pressure is too low.

H.O.L.D.

A mnemonic for ventilator alarms: High-Obstruction, Low-Disconnection.

Xeroform petroleum dressing

The specific type of dressing a nurse should have ready to place over the incision site after a healthcare provider removes a chest tube.