Urgent needle decompression

Urgent needle decompression is used for patients with decompensated (tension) pneumothorax. Sterile procedures and local anaesthetic are desirable, but do not delay decompression if these are not immediately available.

For urgent needle decompression of a pneumothorax:

• insert a cannula above the third rib in the midclavicular line
• remove the needle from the cannula
• insert a thoracostomy tube as soon as possible.