Respiratory medicine: tension pneumothorax: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Respiratory medicine: tension pneumothorax

Sample item

A ventilated trauma patient suddenly becomes hypoxic and hypotensive with absent breath sounds on one side and rising airway pressures. What is the immediate action?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Needle or finger thoracostomy followed by chest drainage

Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis causing obstructive shock and requires immediate decompression; imaging must not delay treatment in an unstable patient. Definitive tube thoracostomy follows.

Option by option

  • A. Wait for a chest radiograph

    Radiography delays emergency treatment.

  • B. Start antibiotics only

    Antibiotics do not treat acute tension physiology.

  • C. Give intravenous diuretic

    Diuretics do not relieve pleural pressure.

  • D. Needle or finger thoracostomy followed by chest drainage (correct)

    Correct. Immediate decompression relieves life-threatening intrathoracic pressure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Needle or finger thoracostomy followed by chest drainage. Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis causing obstructive shock and requires immediate decompression; imaging must not delay treatment in an unstable patient.

Why is "Wait for a chest radiograph" not the answer?

Radiography delays emergency treatment.

Why is "Start antibiotics only" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not treat acute tension physiology.

Why is "Give intravenous diuretic" not the answer?

Diuretics do not relieve pleural pressure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: tension pneumothorax in General Medicine. Definitive tube thoracostomy follows.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Respiratory medicine: tension pneumothorax?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.