skip to main content

Air transport pneumothorax — DipIMC MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardRetrieval and Transport MedicineAir transport pneumothoraxDipIMC

A climber with chest trauma and suspected pneumothorax is being considered for helicopter evacuation over mountains. He is stable on oxygen but breath sounds remain reduced. What is the most appropriate management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Discuss decompression or drainage strategy before altitude exposure

Option A is correct because Gas expansion at altitude can worsen pneumothorax, so retrieval planning should address this before flight. Option E is less appropriate because watchful waiting risks deterioration or delays definitive care; option C is less appropriate because the clinical risk exceeds that destination or timeframe. Option D is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option B is less appropriate because analgesia is important but not sufficient as the primary intervention. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Major Trauma NG39; ATACC