What if the Chest Drainage System is dislodge from the insertion site?

If the chest drainage system is dislodged from the insertion site;

• The nurse immediately applies sterile gauze over the site and calls the physician.
• The nurse would maintain the client in an upright position.
• A new chest tube system may be attached if the tube requires insertion, but this would not be the next action.

*Pulse oximetry readings would assist in determining the client’s respiratory status, but the priority action would be to call the physician.