Presentation
Motorbike collision.
Patient Data
Moderate sized right sided pneumothorax with mild splaying of the ribs and contralateral mediastinal shift in keeping with tension pneumothorax. Right 7th rib fracture with a small amount of surgical emphysema.
There is a short tubing projected over the right 5th-6th ribs peripherally with its tip outside the thoracic cavity.
The left lung is clear. Heart size is within normal limits.
Case Discussion
Tension pneumothorax is an emergency - the patient if still in the department should be reviewed immediately +/- treatment; if not then the treating doctor should be informed immediately.