What is the typical amount of suction applied to a chest tube drainage system?

The typical amount of suction applied to a chest tube drainage system is commonly set to negative 20 cm H2O. This level of suction strikes a balance between effectively promoting the removal of air or fluid from the pleural space while minimizing the risk of complications like tissue trauma. Negative 20 cm H2O provides adequate drainage without overly aggressive suction, which could lead to issues such as lung collapse or inadequate re-expansion of the lung.

Higher levels of negative pressure, such as negative 40 cm H2O or negative 60 cm H2O, might not be necessary and could increase the risk for potential complications associated with excess suction forces. Setting the suction at negative 80 cm H2O is even more aggressive and could be counterproductive, possibly leading to injury to the lung tissue or air leaks if the lung is not adequately re-expanded. This makes negative 20 cm H2O the most clinically validated and widely adopted practice in managing chest tube drainage systems.