What it means
A flexible tube placed between the ribs into the pleural space, connected to a closed drainage system. It removes air in a pneumothoraxnoo-moh-THOR-aksAir in the space between a lung and the chest wall, which lets part or all of that lung collapse.pneum/o air, lungthorac/o chestFull entry or blood and fluid after chest surgery or injury so the lung can re-expand. The drainage unit has a collection chamber, a water seal that lets air out but not back in, and often suction control. Rising and falling of water in the water seal with breathing (tidaling) is expected.
For the nurse
Keep the unit upright and below the chest, tubing free of kinks and loops, and connections taped. Record drainage amount and color; report large amounts or bright red drainage. Continuous bubbling in the water seal can mean an air leak. If the tube is pulled out, cover the site with a sterile dressing and get help; if the tube disconnects, place its end in sterile water per policy.
In a chart
"Right chest tube to -20 cm suction; 50 mL serosanguineous drainage this shift; tidaling present, no bubbling."
At a glance
| Spanish | tubo torácico |
|---|---|
| Also written | chest tubes, chest drain, thoracostomy tube |
Related terms
pulmonary
Relating to the lungs.
pneumothorax
Air in the space between a lung and the chest wall, which lets part or all of that lung collapse.
drainage
Fluid that flows out of a wound, body cavity or tube, or the removal of that fluid.