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Chest drain in transit — DIPIMC MCQ

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HardRetrieval and TransportChest drain in transitDIPIMCDipIMC

A spontaneously breathing patient with a chest drain has continuous bubbling from an ongoing air leak and requires transfer. How should the drainage system be managed?

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Correct answer: D — Keep the bottle upright below the chest and the drain unclamped

The best answer is “Keep the bottle upright below the chest and the drain unclamped”. A functioning underwater-seal system remains upright and below chest level to preserve drainage and prevent backflow. A bubbling drain indicates ongoing air escape and should not be clamped because intrapleural pressure can rise and create a tension pneumothorax. Tubing, connections and drain security require repeated checks during transfer, with an emergency plan for disconnection or sudden deterioration.

Reference: British Thoracic Society, Clinical statement on pleural procedures: https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/quality-improvement/clinical-statements/pleural-procedures/