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Open pneumothorax with shock — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateTraumaOpen pneumothorax with shockDipIMC

A 24-year-old man has a large sucking wound to the right lateral chest after a fall through glass. He is tachypnoeic, SpO2 90% on oxygen, systolic blood pressure 94 mmHg, with reduced right-sided air entry but no tracheal deviation. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

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

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Correct answer: E — Apply a vented chest seal and monitor closely for tension

A vented occlusive dressing reduces air entrainment while allowing egress from the pleural space. A four-sided airtight seal can convert an open pneumothorax into a tension pneumothorax. Chest drain insertion is not the routine first step for most immediate care teams at scene.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; ATACC