105 reactions · 18 shares | When should you clamp a chest tube? Almost never. Clamping a chest tube prematurely traps air in the space between the lungs and chest wall, increasing pleural cavity pressure. If too much air accumulates the lung may collapse. This is called a tension pneumothorax. Always double check that you have a provider order prior to clamping a chest tube. | Nursing and NCLEX Mastery | Facebook