A client has a chest tube attached to a chest drainage system. The client asks the nurse, "Can the tube come out faster if you turn the wall suction up higher?"

The nurse's response is based on which fact regarding turning up the wall suction?

1. It would increase the actual suction in the system and is a good idea.
2. It would increase the actual suction in the system but could damage lung tissue.
3. It would not increase the actual suction in the system but could cause the client to suffer injury.
4. It would not increase the actual suction in the system but would cause more air to be pulled through the air vent and suction chamber to the suction source.

Increasing the wall suction can indeed increase the actual suction, but it can also cause potential damage to lung tissue. The chest drainage system is designed to maintain safe and effective levels of suction, and excessive suction can lead to complications like re-expansion pulmonary edema. Option 2

Explanation:

The correct response to the student's question regarding chest tube suction is option 2: It would increase the actual suction in the system but could damage lung tissue.

When suction is applied to a chest drain, it is important to use the prescribed amount to avoid complications. The aim of the suction is to help reestablish the negative pressure in the chest cavity that is essential for lung expansion.

Chest tube suction should be administered at a level that is effective yet safe. If the wall suction is turned up too high, it could lead to excessive negative pressure, which might result in injury to the delicate lung tissue or cause rapid lung re-expansion that can lead to a rare but serious condition called re-expansion pulmonary edema.

The chest drainage system is designed to regulate the amount of suction applied within safe limits, and turning up the suction beyond recommended levels does not necessarily accelerate the healing process and could pose risks to the client. Option 2