Plate · Tension pneumothoraxAnterior view

Close-up

Tension pneumothorax

Air trapped in the pleura

The figure showsBlue lips

Memory hook

Do not wait for an X-ray. Needle the second intercostal space in the midclavicular line, then put in a chest drain.

Exam clue

One side moves less, is hyper-resonant, and the trachea is pushed to the other side.

For study and revision. Check details against standard textbooks before relying on them clinically.

Medical review of this page is in progress.