An unconscious 66 year old man is lying in a pool of blood. He was stabbed in the left anterior chest and has a sucking chest wound. What should you do?

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Multiple Choice

An unconscious 66 year old man is lying in a pool of blood. He was stabbed in the left anterior chest and has a sucking chest wound. What should you do?

Open chest wounds, like a sucking chest wound, require an occlusive dressing to seal the wound and prevent air from being sucked into the chest during inspiration. By sealing the wound with an occlusive dressing (ideally taped on three sides to act as a flutter valve), you stop air from entering the pleural space while still allowing any trapped air to escape, reducing the risk of developing a tension pneumothorax. Do not remove the penetrating object, and avoid nonocclusive dressings or simply dry cloths, as they won't stop air leakage. After applying the occlusive dressing, continue monitoring and support breathing and circulation.

Open chest wounds, like a sucking chest wound, require an occlusive dressing to seal the wound and prevent air from being sucked into the chest during inspiration. By sealing the wound with an occlusive dressing (ideally taped on three sides to act as a flutter valve), you stop air from entering the pleural space while still allowing any trapped air to escape, reducing the risk of developing a tension pneumothorax. Do not remove the penetrating object, and avoid nonocclusive dressings or simply dry cloths, as they won't stop air leakage. After applying the occlusive dressing, continue monitoring and support breathing and circulation.

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