You are taking care of a trauma patient in the ICU. Following placement of a chest tube, there is a large amount of air that continues to exit the chest tube in a synchronized pattern with positive pressure ventilation. What do you suspect?
A) Inappropriate ventilator settings
B) Bronchial injury
C) Correct placement of the chest tube
D) Endotracheal tube cuff leak

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of bronchial injury should be suspected when, after the placement of a chest tube for pleural drainage, large amounts of air continue to exit the chest tube in a synchronized pattern with positive pressure ventilation.

You Are Taking Care of a Trauma Patient in the ICU