Indications to Decompress Tension Pneumothorax

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Indications to Decompress Tension Pneumothorax

• The presence of tension pneumothorax with
  decompensation as evidenced by more than one of
  the following
• Respiratory distress and cyanosis
• Loss of radial pulse (late shock)
• Decreasing LOC
• Stress that loss of breath sounds on one side
  does not make a diagnosis of tension
  pneumothorax. This procedure should require
  convincing Medical Direction that it is needed.
  It should require voice command not protocol.