How do I confirm the patient has a pneumothorax?
If there are no air bubbles observed going from right to left in the water seal, there is no patient air leak. In order to confirm that your patient’s chest catheter(s) are patent, temporarily turn suction off and check for oscillation of the patient pressure float ball in the water seal column coinciding with patient respiration. If bubbling is present (constant or intermittent) in the water seal air leak monitor, this will confirm an air leak is present.
