A patient is diagnosed with a tension pneumothorax. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency where air builds up in the pleural space and compresses the lung, putting pressure on the heart and great vessels. The compression of the heart and great vessels can cause distended neck veins (B), as well as tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side (E). Absent breath sounds on the affected side (D) are also a common finding, since the lung is compressed and not able to properly exchange air. Hypertension is not typically seen in tension pneumothorax (A), and in fact, the patient may present with hypotension due to decreased cardiac output. Bradycardia (C) is also not typically seen unless the patient is in a very late stage of decompensation.

A Patient Is Diagnosed with a Tension Pneumothorax