A patient recently underwent lung tumor removal and has a chest drainage system with multiple chambers. If the second chamber reads 850 mL, which description correctly identifies this finding?

• A. 850 mL mark on the second chamber
• B. 100 mL mark on the first chamber
• C. 200 mL mark on the third chamber
• D. The device is not functioning properly

Answer: (A)

A chest drainage setup is designed to remove fluid or air from the pleural space and to track how much drainage has been collected. The chamber that has graduated markings is used to quantify that drainage over time. If the reading shows 850 mL in the second chamber, it means that 850 mL of drainage has been collected in that chamber since placement. This measurement helps monitor the patient’s progress after surgery and guides clinical decisions; you’d compare it with previous readings and watch for any sudden changes that could indicate bleeding or occlusion. The other chambers serve different roles—one provides the water seal and one regulates suction—so their readings don’t represent the volume of drainage. The description matching the finding is that the second chamber shows an 850 mL mark, indicating the collected drainage volume.