A pre-hospital team is managing a 30-year-old male who has sustained a penetrating injury to the right chest with a sucking wound. They apply a commer...

Question

A pre-hospital team is managing a 30-year-old male who has sustained a penetrating injury to the right chest with a sucking wound. They apply a commercial vented chest seal. After 10 minutes, the patient remains stable. What monitoring should continue during transport?

Accepted Answer

Continuous monitoring for signs of developing tension pneumothorax - if the patient deteriorates, the chest seal should be burped or removed, and thoracostomy considered

Answer

Chest seals always prevent tension pneumothorax

Answer

Only SpO2 monitoring is required

Answer

No further monitoring is needed once the chest seal is applied

Answer

The patient should have the seal removed after 15 minutes regardless of clinical status

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Chest Seal Monitoring

A pre-hospital team is managing a 30-year-old male who has sustained a penetrating injury to the right chest with a sucking wound. They apply a commercial vented chest seal. After 10 minutes, the patient remains stable. What monitoring should continue during transport?