21-year-old Man in Surgery — 21yo Man | Trauma Surgery | SMLE Q#11616
SMLE Question #11616
Surgery
Trauma Surgery
Objective: OBJ-TRM-AIRWAY-01
Last updated: February 2026
A 21-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motorbike crash. He is conscious and acutely dyspneic. Examination shows markedly reduced breath sounds and hyperresonance to percussion over the left hemithorax. He becomes increasingly restless and his perfusion appears poor. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
Continue in practice mode
Sign in and start a focused practice session to view options, submit your answer, and read the full explanation.