A patient with a pneumothorax has a chest drainage system. The family asks when the chest tube will be removed. Which of the following responses, by the nurse, is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cessation of tidaling (fluctuation of fluid level in the drainage system with the patient's breathing) indicates that the lung has re-expanded and the tube can be safely removed. Lung sounds being equal on both sides is also an indicator of lung re-expansion. The amount of serous drainage is not the sole factor in determining when to remove the chest tube. Effective cough and deep breathing are important for overall lung hygiene, but not specifically related to the removal of the chest tube. Adventitious lung sounds can persist even after the lung has re-expanded, and are not a reliable indicator for chest tube removal.

A Patient with a Pneumothorax Has a Chest Drainage System