tension pneumo

[bw1776]

Hey guys.

I've asked guys I work who are some really good medics but they kinda stick with what protocols say and not what would actually work well given certain situations.

I've worked GSWs and stabbings with sucking chest wounds and tension pneumothorax. The 3 sided dressing or chest seals sound great but between diaphorysis, the pt moving, and things bumping around, they don't stay on or work the way they should. I like the idea of using a defib pad to totally occlude it and burping it. Also, needle decomp with a finger cut off of a med glove used as a one way valve (which is what we have) doesn't work very good either. So if I was sticking with totally occlusive and burping it, how often do you guys think it should be burped? I know you read the pt but I don't want to wait for a pneumo to develop either.

I'm talking about if you were nowhere and a couple hours from higher care, what would you guys do or come up with. Protocol free answer.

Thanks guys.