Question 1: What is the most important intervention for a patient in acute respiratory distress with tachycardia, hypotension, jugular vein distention, and unilateral absence of breath sounds?
Question 2: What are the differences between a simple (closed) pneumothorax and a complex or communicating (open) pneumothorax? What causes progression to a tension pneumothorax?
Question 3: What interventions should the nurse anticipate for a patient with a massive hemothorax?
Question 4: What are the indications for a resuscitative thoracotomy?