A 27-year-old man is brought after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. He is awake but tachypnoeic, with reduced breath sounds on the left and trach...

Question

A 27-year-old man is brought after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. He is awake but tachypnoeic, with reduced breath sounds on the left and tracheal deviation to the right. Blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate management step?

Accepted Answer

Perform needle thoracostomy on the left side followed by chest tube insertion

Answer

Intubate and ventilate before any other interventions

Answer

Obtain urgent chest radiograph

Answer

Administer high-flow oxygen and observe

Answer

Arrange CT scan of the chest

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Tension pneumothorax

A 27-year-old man is brought after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. He is awake but tachypnoeic, with reduced breath sounds on the left and tracheal deviation to the right. Blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate management step?