A patient with a traumatic pneumothorax has had a chest seal applied to an open wound. During transport, the patient's condition acutely deteriorates ...

Question

A patient with a traumatic pneumothorax has had a chest seal applied to an open wound. During transport, the patient's condition acutely deteriorates with worsening dyspnoea, tachycardia, and hypotension. The chest seal appears intact. What has most likely happened?

Accepted Answer

The chest seal has converted the open pneumothorax to a tension pneumothorax - burp the seal or perform thoracostomy on the affected side

Answer

The patient is having an anxiety attack

Answer

The patient has developed a haemothorax on the contralateral side

Answer

The chest seal has fallen off

Answer

The patient has developed a cardiac tamponade

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Chest Seal Complication

A patient with a traumatic pneumothorax has had a chest seal applied to an open wound. During transport, the patient's condition acutely deteriorates with worsening dyspnoea, tachycardia, and hypotension. The chest seal appears intact. What has most likely happened?