#15 Discuss the documentation needed for the client with a chest tube.

The puropose of the chest tube is to remove the air and fluid form the pleural space and to restore normal intrapleural pressure so the the lungs can expand.

**First document assessment from pre-insertion of the chest tube:document: breath sounds, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate and rhythm, and O2 (oxygen) saturation; allergies; also document that O2 and suction are available at bedside; also doument any client teaching that took place.
** Then document post-insertion, maintenance, and post-removal:
--Immediately after isertion and q 4 hrs. document: insertion site, location, tube size; document fluctuations in the air leak indicator, air bubbles in the air leak indicator, and that the suction is set at the ordered level in the drainage collection system.
--Immediately after insertion, q 4 hrs while chest tube is in place, and immediately after removal of the chest tube document: comfort level, breath sounds, heart rate, B/P, temp., respiratory rate and rhythm, O2 saturation; drainage for amont. color, and consistency; the dressing for occlusiveness and drainage from the insertion site; the chest wall at insertion site for subcutaneous emphysema (?)
--While chest tube is in place and drainiage collection system is in use document the volume of drainage (date,time, and initials)I couldn't find this anywhere in the book but after some research on the internet gathered this info.