Tension Pneumothorax

Overview

4.7 out of 5 (51 Reviews)

Credits

1.50

Post-Assessment Questions

11

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

7 Jul 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

90 Minutes


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Activity Description

Tension pneumothorax represents a life-threatening condition marked by intrapleural air accumulation under pressure, causing lung collapse and mediastinal shift. Causes include penetrating or blunt thoracic trauma, barotrauma from mechanical ventilation, or iatrogenic injury. A 1-way valve mechanism allows air entry during inspiration but blocks exit during expiration, escalating intrathoracic pressure. Clinical diagnosis hinges on signs like hypotension, unilateral breath sounds, distended neck veins, and tracheal deviation. Immediate management involves needle decompression followed by tube thoracostomy to restore lung expansion and alleviate hemodynamic compromise. Complications, such as cardiac arrest, recurrent tension physiology, or pulmonary injury, arise without prompt intervention. Timely recognition and treatment correlate with improved outcomes, whereas delays increase risks of significant morbidity or mortality.

This educational activity enhances healthcare professionals’ competence in evaluating and managing tension pneumothorax. Participants gain comprehensive knowledge of its etiologies, risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation. The course emphasizes evidence-based diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions, including needle decompression and tube thoracostomy. Collaboration with interprofessional teams, including emergency clinicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists, improves patient outcomes by ensuring rapid diagnosis, coordinated intervention, and effective post-treatment care, reducing complications and enhancing recovery.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the pathophysiologic changes associated with tension pneumothorax, including intrapleural pressure dynamics, mediastinal shift, and cardiopulmonary compromise.

  • Differentiate tension pneumothorax from other causes of sudden cardiovascular collapse, such as cardiac tamponade, massive pulmonary embolism, or myocardial infarction, using clinical examination and bedside diagnostics.

  • Screen patients with trauma and those undergoing mechanical ventilation for early signs of decompensation suggestive of a developing tension pneumothorax.

  • Coordinate transitions of care from emergency to inpatient or intensive care settings, ensuring detailed communication, handoffs, and continued monitoring for complications like re-expansion pulmonary edema or tube malfunction.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurses: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.50 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

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Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6693 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7958 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$37.50 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$89 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$139 per 1 year per user