The nurse is assessing a client an hour after a left lung lobectomy. The client is awake, alert, and oriented, and reports pain of 6 on a 0-10 scale. Pulse oximetry is 92% on 4 L oxygen via nasal cannula. The chest tube is set to continuous water seal suction at -20 cm H₂O. The collection chamber has accumulated 320 mL of frank red drainage in the last hour. What is the priority nursing action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Following lung surgery, a chest tube is inserted into the pleural space to create a negative vacuum to re-inflate the lung and prevent air from re-entering the space. A client with a chest tube should be assessed for signs of air/fluid in the chest (eg, diminished breath sounds), excessive drainage (>100 mL/hr), pain, and infection at the drainage site. The collection chamber should be inspected every hour for the first 8 hours following surgery, then every 8 hours until it is removed. Excess drainage of frank red blood is indicative of hemorrhage and must be managed immediately. The priority action is to contact the health care provider for further management. (Option A) Clamping the chest tube prevents air or fluid from leaving the pleural space, which may cause a reciprocal tension pneumothorax. The chest tube is clamped only a few hours prior to removal, momentarily to check for an air leak, or if the drainage apparatus needs to be changed. (Option B) Although a pulse oximetry of 92% is low, this is an expected finding following lung surgery. (Option C) Pain following surgery is a concern and the client will require medication; however, hemorrhage is the priority. Educational objective: A client with a chest tube should be assessed for signs of air/fluid in the chest (eg, diminished breath sounds), excessive drainage (>100 mL/hr), pain, and infection at the drainage site. Excess drainage of frank red blood is indicative of hemorrhage and must be managed immediately.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Client an Hour After a Left