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Management of a tension pneumothorax

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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A tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency requiring immediate decompression:

  • insert a large-bore intravenous cannula into the second intercostal space in the midclavicular line on the affected side

  • if there is a sudden release of air, the diagnosis is confirmed and should be followed immediately by an intercostal chest drain in the fifth intercostal space in the midaxillary line

  • if the diagnosis is in doubt, order a chest x-ray and proceed with the chest drain if confirmatory

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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