Very often, potential problems can usually be avoided by routinely checking
the patient, tube connectors, and drainage system at regularly scheduled intervals.
Listed below are many of those common problems that can be easily corrected:
-
clot in chest tube inside patient
-
clot in the patient tube
-
dependent loop in patient tube with fluid
-
kink in patient tube from bed rail or patient position
-
partial dislodgement of catheter from patient
-
partial disconnection of patient tube from chest tube connector
-
overfilled water seal (water is above 2cm line)
-
in-line connectors not properly secured
-
patient tube clamp may be closed
-
floor stand is not fully opened
-
chest drain is not upright
-
chest drain is not positioned sufficiently below patient's chest
-
suction monitor bellows does not fully expand because source suction falls below the
minimum operating range or poor connection
-
Suction control is bubbling too vigorously
from "Managing Chest Drainage" booklet published by Atrium Medical Corporation