VENTED OR NON-VENTED CHEST SEALS? Who cares, just get it done!
VENTED OR NON-VENTED CHEST SEALS? Who cares, just get it done. By Jonathan Willis Tension pneumothorax is the number two leading cause of treatable traumatic death in the United States. Aside from needle decompression, which is generally unadvised for the layperson, the simple chest seal is the best tool at our disposal to prevent this life threatening condition. As an instructor of emergency response to trauma/medical incidents I get asked a lot of questions about what folks might choose to add to their kit. Specific to the topic of chest seals, I get asked often about vented versus non-vented, and even improvised solutions. In my Real World Trauma course I make it a point to make every student understand the exact pathophysiology of pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, and management of respiratory trauma. People are often surprised when I tell them, "I don't care what kind of chest seal you use, just get it done." That may so...