Continuous bubbling in the air leak monitor of a chest tube drainage system indicates:

Continuous bubbling in the air leak monitor of a chest tube drainage system indicates:

• A. No air leak
• B. Air leak present
• C. The system is full
• D. The patient is improving

Answer: (B)

Continuous bubbling in the air leak monitor means air is continually escaping from the pleural space through the chest tube into the drainage system. That ongoing flow indicates an air leak is present. If there were no air leak, the monitor would be quiet or only show intermittent, diminishing bubbles as any leak seals. A full system or the patient simply improving wouldn’t cause continuous bubbling; in fact, bubbling often decreases as the lung re-expands and leaks stop.

Continuous bubbling in the air leak monitor means air is continually escaping from the pleural space through the chest tube into the drainage system. That ongoing flow indicates an air leak is present. If there were no air leak, the monitor would be quiet or only show intermittent, diminishing bubbles as any leak seals. A full system or the patient simply improving wouldn’t cause continuous bubbling; in fact, bubbling often decreases as the lung re-expands and leaks stop.