Tension Pneumothorax

• Diminished or absent breath sounds
• Hypotension or e/o hypoperfusion
• Distended neck veins
  • May not occur if pt is hypovolemic
• Tracheal deviation
  • Late sign
• Tx
  • Immediate needle decompression (temporary) followed by chest tube (definitive)
    • 14ga IV in midclavicular line just above the rib at the second intercostal space

See Also

• Thoracic Trauma
• Traumatic Pneumothorax
• Spontaneous Pneumothorax