Which sign is a late indicator of tension pneumothorax?

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Multiple Choice

Which sign is a late indicator of tension pneumothorax?

In tension pneumothorax, air builds up under pressure in the pleural space and pushes the mediastinum away from the affected side. The trachea will deviate only once the intrathoracic pressure is high enough to cause substantial mediastinal shift, which makes it a late sign. Earlier indicators reflect the struggling lung and compromised circulation, such as tachycardia, chest pain, or reduced breath sounds, but tracheal deviation signals that the pressure has become severe and the mediastinal structures are being displaced. If you see a tracheal deviation, it points to advanced progression and requires prompt intervention.

In tension pneumothorax, air builds up under pressure in the pleural space and pushes the mediastinum away from the affected side. The trachea will deviate only once the intrathoracic pressure is high enough to cause substantial mediastinal shift, which makes it a late sign. Earlier indicators reflect the struggling lung and compromised circulation, such as tachycardia, chest pain, or reduced breath sounds, but tracheal deviation signals that the pressure has become severe and the mediastinal structures are being displaced. If you see a tracheal deviation, it points to advanced progression and requires prompt intervention.

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