What is the definitive treatment for tension pneumothorax?

The definitive treatment for tension pneumothorax is the placement of a chest tube, also known as tube thoracostomy. This procedure involves inserting a tube into the pleural space to allow for continuous drainage of air or fluid that may be causing the chest cavity to collapse, facilitating lung re-expansion.

In the case of a tension pneumothorax, where air accumulates in the pleural space and causes increased pressure, immediate intervention is crucial as this condition can quickly become life-threatening. While needle decompression is often used as a rapid initial treatment to relieve pressure, it is not a long-term solution. Needle decompression can temporarily alleviate the pressure, but it does not provide an avenue for continued drainage; hence, a chest tube is necessary for definitive management.

Oxygen therapy, while beneficial in improving oxygenation, does not address the underlying mechanical problem of trapped air in the thoracic cavity. Similarly, thoracotomy, which is a surgical incision into the chest wall, is typically reserved for more complex thoracic conditions or injuries and is not a first-line or immediate treatment specifically for tension pneumothorax. Therefore, the chest tube provides the essential function required to treat and correct the physiological state caused by tension pneumothor