A 28-year-old male is stabbed in the right 6th intercostal space in the mid-axillary line. He has a respiratory rate of 28, SpO2 of 90%, and the wound...

Question

A 28-year-old male is stabbed in the right 6th intercostal space in the mid-axillary line. He has a respiratory rate of 28, SpO2 of 90%, and the wound is bubbling with each breath. After applying a chest seal, you notice the seal is not adhering properly due to blood and sweat on the skin. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Wipe the skin as dry as possible around the wound, apply tincture of benzoin if available to improve adhesion, and reapply the chest seal - if it still fails, consider gloved hand occlusion or thoracostomy

Answer

Leave the seal partially attached and hope it works

Answer

Pack the wound with gauze instead of using a seal

Answer

Remove the seal entirely and leave the wound open

Answer

Apply multiple chest seals on top of each other

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Chest Seal Adhesion Failure