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ATCN REVIEW 2026 100% PASS ASSURED
EXAMINATION SOLUTIONS
10 Signs and sx of tension pneumothorax -
correct answer- 1.chest pain
2.air hunger
3.respiratory distress
4.tachycardia
5.hypotension
6.tracheal deviation away from injury
7.unilateral absence of breath sounds
8.elevated hemithorax w/out respiratory
movement
9.neck vein distention
10.cyanosis (late sign)
Signs and sx of cardiac tamponade - correct
answer- 1. Becks Triad= increased venous
pressure(distended neck veins), decreased
arterial pressure(hypotension), muffled heart
tones
2. PEA
3. JVD &/or Kussmauls sign
4. Use FAST to dx
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tension pneumothorax can often be confused
with cardiac tamponade, how do you
differentiate? - correct answer- Careful
assessment of the pt's breath sounds is
paramount to differentiate the two
Tx of tension pneumothorax - correct answer-
1. Needle decompression- large bore needle 2nd
intercostal space midclavicular line 2. chest
tube 4 or 5th intercostal space mid axillary
triad of death - correct answer- -Acidosis
- Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy (blood can't clot resulting in
continued bleeding)
rule of 9's adult - correct answer- Head = 9%
Chest (front) = 9%
Abdomen (front) = 9%
Upper/mid/low back and buttocks = 18%
Each arm = 9% (front = 4.5%, back = 4.5%)
Groin = 1%
ATCN REVIEW 2026 100% PASS ASSURED
EXAMINATION SOLUTIONS
10 Signs and sx of tension pneumothorax -
correct answer- 1.chest pain
2.air hunger
3.respiratory distress
4.tachycardia
5.hypotension
6.tracheal deviation away from injury
7.unilateral absence of breath sounds
8.elevated hemithorax w/out respiratory
movement
9.neck vein distention
10.cyanosis (late sign)
Signs and sx of cardiac tamponade - correct
answer- 1. Becks Triad= increased venous
pressure(distended neck veins), decreased
arterial pressure(hypotension), muffled heart
tones
2. PEA
3. JVD &/or Kussmauls sign
4. Use FAST to dx
, 2 | Page
tension pneumothorax can often be confused
with cardiac tamponade, how do you
differentiate? - correct answer- Careful
assessment of the pt's breath sounds is
paramount to differentiate the two
Tx of tension pneumothorax - correct answer-
1. Needle decompression- large bore needle 2nd
intercostal space midclavicular line 2. chest
tube 4 or 5th intercostal space mid axillary
triad of death - correct answer- -Acidosis
- Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy (blood can't clot resulting in
continued bleeding)
rule of 9's adult - correct answer- Head = 9%
Chest (front) = 9%
Abdomen (front) = 9%
Upper/mid/low back and buttocks = 18%
Each arm = 9% (front = 4.5%, back = 4.5%)
Groin = 1%
