TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 38. Needle Thoracostomy A1 - Reichman, Eric F. Y1 - 2013 N1 - T2 - Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e AB - A tension pneumothorax is a unilateral progressive collection of air in the pleural space. If not treated, it results in increasing intrapleural pressures, shifting of intrathoracic structures, hypoxemia, and death. It occurs from a one-way air leak into the pleural cavity from the airway conduits, the lung, or the thoracic wall. The air leak causes air to enter the pleural cavity and become trapped, without a method of egress. Rapid decompression of the tension pneumothorax with a catheter-over-the-needle is known as a needle thoracostomy and can be lifesaving. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57703887 ER -