Western Governors University (WGU) D446 Adult Health II Practice Exam

The key idea is that tension pneumothorax causes air to build up under pressure, pushing the mediastinal structures and trachea to the opposite side. Tracheal deviation away from the affected side is a hallmark of this mediastinal shift and signals that the patient is developing life-threatening compression of the heart and great vessels, requiring immediate decompression with needle thoracostomy followed by chest tube placement. Other signs listed don’t fit this urgent picture: expiratory wheeze isn’t specific to a tension pneumothorax, normal breath sounds don’t reflect the unilateral collapse and pressure, and stable vital signs would not align with the hemodynamic compromise of a tension event. Prompt decompression is essential to relive the pressure and restore venous return.