A pre-hospital team is managing a patient with acute severe asthma who has been intubated via RSI. Immediately after intubation, the patient becomes p...

Question

A pre-hospital team is managing a patient with acute severe asthma who has been intubated via RSI. Immediately after intubation, the patient becomes profoundly hypotensive with bilateral absence of breath sounds despite confirmed tracheal tube position on capnography. What has most likely occurred?

Accepted Answer

Bilateral tension pneumothoraces from dynamic hyperinflation - positive pressure ventilation in severe asthma can cause bilateral pneumothoraces; perform bilateral finger thoracostomies immediately

Answer

Massive pulmonary embolism

Answer

Anaphylaxis to the induction agent

Answer

Cardiac tamponade

Answer

The endotracheal tube is in the oesophagus

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Bilateral Tension Pneumothoraces in Asthma

A pre-hospital team is managing a patient with acute severe asthma who has been intubated via RSI. Immediately after intubation, the patient becomes profoundly hypotensive with bilateral absence of breath sounds despite confirmed tracheal tube position on capnography. What has most likely occurred?