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Table 64.2

Signs of Tension Pneumothorax

  • Respiratory distress (dyspnoea, tachypnoea, ability to speak only in short sentences or single words, agitation, sweating)
  • Falling arterial oxygen saturation
  • Ipsilateral hyperexpansion, hypomobility, hyperresonance with decreased breath sounds
  • Tachycardia
  • Hypotension (late sign)
  • Tracheal deviation (inconsistent sign)
  • Elevated jugular venous pressure (inconsistent sign)