A 25-year-old man is stabbed in the right chest. He is dyspnoeic, blood pressure 96/60 mmHg, breath sounds are reduced on the right, percussion is

Question

A 25-year-old man is stabbed in the right chest. He is dyspnoeic, blood pressure 96/60 mmHg, breath sounds are reduced on the right, percussion is dull, and chest radiograph shows a large pleural opacity. What is the most appropriate initial management?

Accepted Answer

Right tube thoracostomy

Answer

Oral antibiotics and repeat radiograph

Answer

Immediate bronchoscopy

Answer

Needle aspiration and outpatient follow-up

Answer

Therapeutic anticoagulation

Traumatic haemothorax — RCPSC EM MCQ

A 25-year-old man is stabbed in the right chest. He is dyspnoeic, blood pressure 96/60 mmHg, breath sounds are reduced on the right, percussion is dull, and chest radiograph shows a large pleural opacity. What is the most appropriate initial management?