For an open chest wound with a sucking sound, which dressing is recommended?

For an open chest wound with a sucking sound, which dressing is recommended?

• A. Fully occlusive on all sides
• B. Semi-occlusive with three-sided seal
• C. Drape a plastic wrap tightly around all sides
• D. Leave uncovered

Answer: (B)

An open chest wound with a sucking sound is an open pneumothorax that needs the wound covered while still allowing air to escape. The best approach is a semi-occlusive dressing taped on three sides, leaving one edge open to vent. This setup seals the wound so air can’t be sucked into the chest during inhalation, but it still lets air escape during exhalation, helping prevent a buildup of pressure that could lead to a tension pneumothorax. Fully occlusive on all sides would trap air inside and could worsen chest pressure. Leaving the wound uncovered fails to protect the chest cavity from air entry. Draping plastic wrap tightly around all sides effectively creates a fully occlusive seal, which is not ideal in this situation.

An open chest wound with a sucking sound is an open pneumothorax that needs the wound covered while still allowing air to escape. The best approach is a semi-occlusive dressing taped on three sides, leaving one edge open to vent. This setup seals the wound so air can’t be sucked into the chest during inhalation, but it still lets air escape during exhalation, helping prevent a buildup of pressure that could lead to a tension pneumothorax.

Fully occlusive on all sides would trap air inside and could worsen chest pressure. Leaving the wound uncovered fails to protect the chest cavity from air entry. Draping plastic wrap tightly around all sides effectively creates a fully occlusive seal, which is not ideal in this situation.