Thoracic Trauma Flashcards
7 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Thoracic Trauma flashcards as text
What is the most common cause of thoracic trauma in adults in the United States?
Answer: Motor vehicle collisions
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of blunt thoracic trauma in the US, accounting for the majority of chest injuries seen in trauma centers.
A patient presents with tracheal deviation away from the affected side, absent breath sounds, hypotension, and jugular venous distension. Which condition does this describe?
Answer: Tension pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax causes air to accumulate under pressure, shifting the mediastinum and trachea away from the affected side while producing obstructive shock.
What is the immediate intervention for suspected tension pneumothorax in a rapidly deteriorating patient?
Answer: Needle decompression at the second intercostal space, midclavicular line
Needle decompression is the immediate life-saving intervention for tension pneumothorax; imaging should never delay treatment in a deteriorating patient.
Which injury is characterized by paradoxical chest wall movement during respiration?
Answer: Flail chest
Flail chest occurs when three or more consecutive ribs are fractured in two or more places, creating a free-floating segment that moves opposite to the rest of the chest wall.
Beck's triad of hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and distended neck veins is the classic presentation of which condition?
Answer: Cardiac tamponade
Beck's triad describes cardiac tamponade, in which fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac restricts cardiac filling and reduces cardiac output.
What is the correct initial management for an open pneumothorax (sucking chest wound)?
Answer: Application of an occlusive dressing sealed on three sides
A three-sided occlusive dressing allows air to escape on exhalation while preventing entrainment on inhalation, avoiding conversion to a tension pneumothorax.
Massive hemothorax is defined as blood accumulation in the pleural space of at least how much?
Answer: 1,500 mL
Massive hemothorax is defined as 1,500 mL or more of blood in the pleural space, which causes significant hemodynamic compromise and requires immediate intervention.