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Tension pneumothorax — PARA MCQ

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HardEmergency presentations - TraumaTension pneumothoraxPARA

A 36-year-old man has sudden pleuritic chest pain and breathlessness after a road traffic collision. He is hypotensive, trachea deviates left and there are absent breath sounds on the right. What is the most important next step?

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Correct answer: B — Immediate decompression for suspected tension pneumothorax

Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis in an unstable trauma patient and requires immediate decompression before imaging.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE approach; ATLS principles