Question

How to ttreat a tension pneumothorax? and explain its physiological purposes

Answer 1

Tension pneumothorax is a life threatening condition that should be identified immediatly and require an emergency treatment. It is a condition in which there is an accumilation of air in pleural space under pressure, which compresses the chest and decrease the venous return to the heart. Small pneumothoraces can be treated with thorasoctomy tubes by providing mechanical ventillation.

The treatment of Tension Pneumothorax is done by Needle decompression followed by tube thoracostomy.

Airway breathing and circulations should be tested in the patient. If there is a penetrating wound in the patient it must be covered immediatly using pressure bandage.

Immediatly adminter the patient with 100% oxygen to increse pleural air absorption.

Simple aspiration should be done by a plastic IV canula. It can be placed conviniently in second intercoastalspace in midclavicular line.

The following step can be recommended if the aspiration go ineffective.

First of all as an initial step - Clinically recognise the pneumothorax, - Perform needle thoracostomy - then communicate for patient transport.

After the admission of the patient, the nurse first correctly place the thoracostomy tube and then only place the second one once it get obstructed. As it is a very painful precedure anesthesia or any analgia should be administered to the patient. The estimation of the correct size of the pneumothorax has to be done. It should be expressed in percentage. If the lung is re expanded rapidly, it is better to use water seal and avoid the suction for about 24 hours. maintain a high index of suspicionusing ventilators who have a onset of peak inspiratory pressure. The pre packed disposable plastic with long central metal trocar can be used inorder to give a safe experience throughout the tratement. A parentral dose of first generation cephalosporins can be given to prevent any kind of infection in the patient.