What is the emergent management of tension pneumothorax?
Tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency.In case of tension pneumothorax,immediate release of the positive pressure by inseion of a large-bore needle into the pleural space through the second anterior intercostal space is beneficial.If the tension is not relieved,the patient is likely to die from inadequate cardiac output, or marked hypoxaemia. Harrison's medicine-18th edition,page no:2181.
Chest X-ray
Emergency room thoracotomy if unstable
Immediate needle thoracostomy in 2nd intercostal space
Tube thoracostomy in 5th ICS
Respiratory system