Which sign is a late indicator of a tension pneumothorax?

Prepare for the Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) exam. Access diverse quizzes and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and comprehensive explanations. Enhance your readiness and confidence for the PHTLS certification exam!

Multiple Choice

Which sign is a late indicator of a tension pneumothorax?

In tension pneumothorax the accumulating air under pressure pushes the mediastinum and trachea away from the affected side as the condition worsens. This mediastinal shift takes time to develop, so tracheal deviation is a late sign reflecting advanced pressure effects on the chest. Early signs you might see before that happen include a hyperresonant percussion on the affected side and reduced or absent breath sounds there, as the lung collapses. The other options don’t fit as late signs: hyperresonance can appear early, while elevated breath sounds on the affected side would not occur with a collapsed lung, and a clear lung examination would be inconsistent with a tension pneumothorax.

In tension pneumothorax the accumulating air under pressure pushes the mediastinum and trachea away from the affected side as the condition worsens. This mediastinal shift takes time to develop, so tracheal deviation is a late sign reflecting advanced pressure effects on the chest. Early signs you might see before that happen include a hyperresonant percussion on the affected side and reduced or absent breath sounds there, as the lung collapses. The other options don’t fit as late signs: hyperresonance can appear early, while elevated breath sounds on the affected side would not occur with a collapsed lung, and a clear lung examination would be inconsistent with a tension pneumothorax.

More practice questions