Airway & Chest Trauma

A chest drain insertion places a tube through the chest wall into the pleural space to evacuate air, blood, or fluid. Safety is decided before the blade touches skin: the correct side, a site inside the triangle of safety, and a tract passing over the top of a rib rather than under it. This article…

Needle decompression (needle thoracostomy) is the emergency procedure that buys time in a tension pneumothorax — releasing trapped pressure so blood can return to the heart. This guide covers when needle decompression is indicated, the equipment you need, the two recommended insertion sites and which one current evidence favors, a step-by-step technique, and how to…

A tension pneumothorax is one of the few conditions in emergency medicine that can kill a patient in minutes yet be reversed in seconds with the right action. This guide explains what a tension pneumothorax is, how it differs from a simple (ordinary) pneumothorax, the signs and symptoms that should raise the alarm, and why…

Learning to intubate is a journey that is easier for some than for others. Regardless of how well you understand the theory of the technique, as a novice, you may struggle to bring all the elements together to successfully pass the endotracheal tube. The anatomy can be confusing, and understanding how to physically manipulate that…

In the high-stakes climax of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Benji Dunn, Ethan’s loyal tech genius, lies wounded after a brutal exchange. His breathing is ragged, his chest is visibly distended, and despite his gasps, no air is reaching his lungs. Recognizing the lethal signs of a tension pneumothorax, Benji looks to his teammate,…