A post-lung surgery client is placed on a chest tube drainage system.
When explaining to the family how the system works, the nurse states that the water-seal bottle of a three-bottle chest drainage system serves which of the following purposes?
A . Collection bottle for drainage
B . Pressure regulator
C . Preventing accumulation of blood around the heart
D . Preventing air from entering the chest upon inspiration
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) There is a separate collection bottle for drainage as part of a chest drainage system.
(B) In a three-bottle chest drainage system, one bottle serves only as a pressure regulator.
(C) Mediastinal chest tubes prevent accumulation of blood around the heart immediately following heart surgery.
(D) The purpose of the water-seal bottle in any chest drainage setup is to allow air out of the chest, but not back in. This negative pressure promotes lung expansion.