You attend a 35-year-old male who has been stabbed in the left chest. He initially appeared stable but has now become acutely hypotensive with distend...

Question

You attend a 35-year-old male who has been stabbed in the left chest. He initially appeared stable but has now become acutely hypotensive with distended neck veins and muffled heart sounds. You perform a needle pericardiocentesis using the subxiphoid approach. What is the correct technique?

Accepted Answer

Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle to the skin, aiming towards the left shoulder, with continuous aspiration

Answer

Insert the needle at the suprasternal notch aiming inferiorly

Answer

Insert the needle aiming towards the right shoulder from the left 5th intercostal space

Answer

Insert the needle perpendicular to the skin at the xiphoid process

Answer

Insert the needle in the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Pericardiocentesis Technique

You attend a 35-year-old male who has been stabbed in the left chest. He initially appeared stable but has now become acutely hypotensive with distended neck veins and muffled heart sounds. You perform a needle pericardiocentesis using the subxiphoid approach. What is the correct technique?