Which sign requires calling for help immediately in a chest-tube patient?

• A. Occasional coughing
• B. Slight chest pain not related
• C. Mild fever
• D. Sudden drain cessation with deterioration

Answer: (D)

In chest-tube management, a sudden cessation of drainage accompanied by the patient’s worsening condition is an urgent red flag. If the drain stops and the person deteriorates, it suggests the tube may be obstructed, kinked, or dislodged. When drainage stops and air or fluid can no longer escape, the pleural space can reaccumulate or a tension 상황 can develop, leading to rapid respiratory decline. This combination — abrupt drain cessation with clinical deterioration — requires immediate help so the team can promptly assess and address the chest tube problem and stabilize the patient.

Occasional coughing, by itself, is not an emergency and can be a normal response to chest tubes as the patient clears secretions. Mild chest pain or slight fever are also not immediate emergencies in this context, though they warrant monitoring and further assessment as indicated.