A pre-hospital physician performs a needle thoracocentesis for a suspected tension pneumothorax using a 14G cannula in the 2nd intercostal space, midc...

Question

A pre-hospital physician performs a needle thoracocentesis for a suspected tension pneumothorax using a 14G cannula in the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line. No rush of air is obtained and the patient does not improve. What is the most likely reason for failure?

Accepted Answer

The chest wall is too thick for the cannula to reach the pleural space - this is the most common cause of needle decompression failure

Answer

The patient has a haemothorax, not a pneumothorax

Answer

The cannula was blocked by a blood clot

Answer

The cannula was inserted in the wrong intercostal space

Answer

The diagnosis of tension pneumothorax was incorrect

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Needle Decompression Failure

A pre-hospital physician performs a needle thoracocentesis for a suspected tension pneumothorax using a 14G cannula in the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line. No rush of air is obtained and the patient does not improve. What is the most likely reason for failure?