A 30-year-old male was hit by a baseball in the chest and now presents with shortness of breath and chest pain. On examination, his heart rate is 120 bpm, and breath sounds are decreased on the left side. What could be the potential causes, and what are the next steps?
The sudden blunt trauma to the chest, along with the patient's symptoms and findings, raise suspicion for a traumatic pneumothorax. This condition occurs when air enters the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. Immediate steps include supplemental oxygen and preparation for chest decompression with a chest tube. A chest x-ray should be ordered for confirmation.