Which of the following is a function of the drainage collection chamber in a chest tube system?

• A. Collects drainage from patient
• B. Maintains negative pressure
• C. Connects to wall suction
• D. Regulates oxygen delivery

Answer: (A)

In a chest tube drainage system, each chamber has a specific job. The drainage collection chamber is the reservoir that directly collects the fluid or air drawn from the pleural space, allowing you to measure output and monitor the patient's status. The other chambers serve different purposes: the water-seal chamber provides a one-way barrier to prevent air from flowing back into the chest, and the suction control chamber connects to wall suction to generate and regulate the negative pressure. Oxygen delivery is not a function of this chest tube setup.