You are caring for a client status post lung resection. When assessing your client you find that the bubbling in the water-seal chamber for the chest tubes is more than you expected. What should you check when bubbling in the water-seal chamber is excessive? a) See if the chest tube is clogged. b) See if the wall suction unit has malfunctioned. c) See if there are leaks in the system. d) See if a kink has developed in the tubing.

See if there are leaks in the system.

Explanation:

Lung resection may be defined as the surgical procedure of removal of lungs part whether fully or partially. This surgery is mainly performed in case of lung injury or tumors.

The respiration in these patients requires the water seal chamber. The chest tube is inserted for the proper respiration. If the bubbling is more, this means there is leakage in the system. The leakage leads to the excess formation of bubbles due to the release of more gases.

Thus, the correct answer is option (c).

Option C, See if there are leaks in the system

Explanation:

Water bubbling more than the expected value signifies leakage or defect in the water seal chamber during the late postoperative period. In case if the chest tube is clogged, there is a possibility of blocking or development of kink in the water seal chamber. In case of clogging or kink, the bubble will not be formed at all. In fact there will be no fluctuation in the tank

Malfunctioning of wall suction unit will not affect the water seal chamber, in fact it will affect the suction chamber. Hence only possibility of increased bubbling is leakage.

Hence, option C is correct