What is the 3-way bottle system?

The insertion point for a chest tube being used to relieve a pneumothorax is usually at the second or third intercostal space anteriorly on the midclavicular line or from the second or third down through the seventh intercostal space on the midaxillary line, with the tube directed toward the apex of the lung. Once the air has stopped leaking for 24 to 48 hours, indicating that the cause of the leak has been resolved, and a repeat chest radiograph shows the absence of free air, the chest tube is removed by simply pulling it out through the insertion site. Then the site is covered with gauze soaked in petroleum jelly to prevent outside air from entering the opening.

Types of Chest Tube Drainage

1. Three-chamber system: includes one chamber

that serves to collect drainage, one that acts as

water-seal, and one that has levels of water to

control the amount of suction regardless of the

amount of negative pressure applied.

2. Commercially prepared plastic unit designed

for closed chest suction: combines the features

of the other systems and may or may not be

attached to suction (e.g., PleurEvac)

Chest Tube Bottles