Studies show needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax is more accurate at the fifth intercostal space (ICS), anterior axillary line (AAL), than at the second ICS, midclavicular line (MCL). Twenty-five Navy corpsmen trained and performed timed procedures on cadavers, inserting a 14-gauge catheter into both sites in sequence. Outcomes included time, accuracy, and ease. They performed 100 insertions with no significant difference in time (16.8 vs. 16.9 seconds). Accuracy was better at the fif

Teaching points: EMS needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax

Traumatic pneumothorax: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment