Question 1

Which part/chamber of the chest tube acts as a one-way valve,allowing air to escape from the pleural or mediastinal space but not allowing it to enter those spaces from the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Collection chamber 
B)  Water seal chamber 
C)  Chest tube tubing 
D)  Suction control chamber

Question 2

A chest radiograph reveals a large pneumothorax in the patient's left chest.How should the chest tube be positioned to drain the pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

A)  Medially toward the mediastinum 
B)  Laterally toward the periphery of the lung 
C)  Anteriorly near the apex of the lung 
D)  Posteriorly along the base of the lung

Question 3

What does continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicate?

Accepted Answer

A)  A leak in the chest tube system 
B)  Active fluid drainage from the patient's chest 
C)  Active air drainage from the patient's chest 
D)  The chest tube is correctly positioned in the patient's chest

Question 4

Which of the following would you suggest to the physician to minimize the risk of infection during the insertion of a chest tube?

Accepted Answer

A)  4% Lidocaine 
B)  Midazolam 
C)  Providone-iodine 
D)  Aspirin

Question 5

Once the chest tube has been inserted,a large loop is inadvertently left in the chest tube tubing.What can happen because of the loop in the tubing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Air evacuation can be enhanced by this 
B)  It can cause a leak in the system 
C)  It can collect fluid, stopping fluid flow from the chest 
D)  Nothing a large loop should always be made in a chest tube tubing

Question 6

Which of the following drugs would you suggest to the physician as a local anesthetic to use at the point of insertion of a chest tube?

Accepted Answer

A)  4% Lidocaine 
B)  Midazolam 
C)  Providone-iodine 
D)  Aspirin cream

Question 7

If too little water is in the water seal chamber,which of the following could happen to the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Air could be inhibited from leaving the thoracic cavity 
B)  Less vacuum could be applied to the thoracic cavity 
C)  Air could be drawn into the thoracic cavity 
D)  Too much fluid or air could be evacuated from the thoracic cavity

Question 8

A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident.A chest radiograph reveals a pneumothorax on the left side.What percussion note could the respiratory care practitioner expect to hear over the right chest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Resonant 
B)  Flat 
C)  Hyperresonant 
D)  Dull

Question 9

Which of the following drugs would you suggest to the physician as an analgesic to help relax the patient before the insertion of a chest tube?

Accepted Answer

A)  4% Lidocaine 
B)  Midazolam 
C)  Providone-iodine 
D)  Aspirin

Question 10

How should the vacuum regulator be adjusted after the set-up of a chest tube system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Adjust until gentle continuous bubbling is observed in the suction control chamber 
B)  Adjust until vigorous continuous bubbling is observed in the suction control chamber 
C)  Adjust the vacuum regulator to full vacuum 
D)  The chest tube should not be connected to wall vacuum

Question 11

A chest radiograph reveals a massive pleural effusion in the patient's left thorax.How should the chest tube be positioned to drain the effusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anteriorly near the apex of the lung 
B)  Posteriorly along the base of the lung 
C)  Medially toward the mediastinum 
D)  Laterally toward the periphery of the lung

Exam 22: Chest Tubes

Which part/chamber of the chest tube acts as a one-way valve,allowing air to escape from the pleural or mediastinal space but not allowing it to enter those spaces from the atmosphere?

A chest radiograph reveals a large pneumothorax in the patient's left chest.How should the chest tube be positioned to drain the pneumothorax?

What does continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicate?

Which of the following would you suggest to the physician to minimize the risk of infection during the insertion of a chest tube?

Once the chest tube has been inserted,a large loop is inadvertently left in the chest tube tubing.What can happen because of the loop in the tubing?

Which of the following drugs would you suggest to the physician as a local anesthetic to use at the point of insertion of a chest tube?

If too little water is in the water seal chamber,which of the following could happen to the patient?

A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident.A chest radiograph reveals a pneumothorax on the left side.What percussion note could the respiratory care practitioner expect to hear over the right chest?

Which of the following drugs would you suggest to the physician as an analgesic to help relax the patient before the insertion of a chest tube?

How should the vacuum regulator be adjusted after the set-up of a chest tube system?

A chest radiograph reveals a massive pleural effusion in the patient's left thorax.How should the chest tube be positioned to drain the effusion?