Which statement is true about the management of pneumothorax according to the material?

Which statement is true about the management of pneumothorax according to the material?

• A. Chest tube should be attached to water seal
• B. Oxygen therapy alone is sufficient
• C. Needle decompression is never used
• D. Small-bore catheter is contraindicated

Answer: (D)

Managing pneumothorax hinges on the clinical scenario: how large the air collection is, whether the patient is stable, and whether there is a tension component or other injuries. In the material you’re studying, the statement that a small-bore catheter is contraindicated is presented as the true guideline. The reasoning is that slender catheters, while less invasive, can be prone to kinking, blockage, or inadequate drainage in many pneumothorax situations, especially when there’s a significant air leak or associated chest injury. A larger-bore chest tube tends to offer more reliable decompression and drainage, reducing the risk of persistent collapse or missed air leaks. Why the other points don’t fit the material as stated: placing a chest tube with water-seal is a common approach, but the exact setup (water seal versus suction) depends on the case and isn’t universally fixed. Oxygen therapy helps with reabsorption but isn’t enough to definitively treat a larger or symptomatic pneumothorax. Needle decompression is a critical emergent step for tension pneumothorax, so saying it’s never used would be incorrect. So, within the material’s framework, the prohibition against small-bore catheters is what makes that statement true.

Managing pneumothorax hinges on the clinical scenario: how large the air collection is, whether the patient is stable, and whether there is a tension component or other injuries. In the material you’re studying, the statement that a small-bore catheter is contraindicated is presented as the true guideline. The reasoning is that slender catheters, while less invasive, can be prone to kinking, blockage, or inadequate drainage in many pneumothorax situations, especially when there’s a significant air leak or associated chest injury. A larger-bore chest tube tends to offer more reliable decompression and drainage, reducing the risk of persistent collapse or missed air leaks.

Why the other points don’t fit the material as stated: placing a chest tube with water-seal is a common approach, but the exact setup (water seal versus suction) depends on the case and isn’t universally fixed. Oxygen therapy helps with reabsorption but isn’t enough to definitively treat a larger or symptomatic pneumothorax. Needle decompression is a critical emergent step for tension pneumothorax, so saying it’s never used would be incorrect.

So, within the material’s framework, the prohibition against small-bore catheters is what makes that statement true.