A 33-year-old man has blunt chest trauma and becomes hypotensive during extrication. Breath sounds are absent on the right, the right chest is

Question

A 33-year-old man has blunt chest trauma and becomes hypotensive during extrication. Breath sounds are absent on the right, the right chest is hyper-resonant and oxygen saturations fall to 84%. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Treat as tension pneumothorax with immediate decompression and reassessment

Answer

Apply an occlusive dressing to the intact chest wall

Answer

Give a crystalloid bolus and reassess breath sounds later

Answer

Place him in a seated position and delay transport

Answer

Perform eFAST before intervention despite worsening hypoxia

Traumatic tension pneumothorax — DipIMC MCQ

A 33-year-old man has blunt chest trauma and becomes hypotensive during extrication. Breath sounds are absent on the right, the right chest is hyper-resonant and oxygen saturations fall to 84%. What is the most appropriate management?