A nurse is monitoring a client following a thoracentesis. The nurse should identify which of the following manifestations as a complication and contact the provider immediately?

A. The patient may need suctioning:
A high-pressure alarm indicates increased resistance to airflow, which could be caused by secretions or mucus in the airways. Suctioning is the appropriate intervention to clear the airways of excess secretions, reducing airway resistance and preventing the high-pressure alarm.

B. The patient extubated himself:
If the patient extubates himself (removes the endotracheal tube), this may result in a low-pressure alarm, not a high-pressure alarm. The low-pressure alarm is triggered when there is a loss of pressure within the ventilator circuit due to disconnection or extubation.

C. The ventilator tubing may be disconnected:
If the ventilator tubing is disconnected, it is more likely to trigger a low-pressure alarm, indicating a loss of pressure in the ventilator circuit. This is not the primary cause of increased resistance seen with a high-pressure alarm.

D. The cuff at the end of the endotracheal tube is deflated:
A deflated cuff can lead to air leakage around the endotracheal tube but is not the primary cause of increased airway resistance seen with a high-pressure alarm. It may cause a low-pressure alarm if cuff pressure is monitored.

A. Fluctuation of the fluid level within the water seal chamber
Fluctuation of the fluid level within the water seal chamber indicates that the chest tube is functioning properly. This fluctuation is a normal finding and reflects the movement of air in and out of the pleural space during the respiratory cycle. As the patient inhales, the fluid level drops, and as they exhale, it rises.

B. Equal amounts of fluid drainage in each collection chamber:
Equal amounts of drainage may suggest a problem with the drainage system or that the chest tube is not effectively draining air or fluid from the pleural space.

C. Continuous bubbling within the water seal chamber:
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber may indicate an air leak, which is not a normal finding. It should be investigated further.

D. Absence of fluid in the drainage tubing:
The absence of fluid in the drainage tubing may suggest that the chest tube is not effectively draining fluid from the pleural space or that there is a blockage in the system. It requires assessment and intervention.