RT Book, Section
A1 Reichman, Eric F.
SR Print(0)
ID 57703887
T1 Chapter 38. Needle Thoracostomy
T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e
YR 2013
FD 2013
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-161352-1
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57703887
RD 2024/04/25
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.