Blunt Trauma To Right in Surgery — 25yo Man | Trauma Surgery | SMLE Q#16747
SMLE Question #16747
Surgery
Trauma Surgery
Objective: OBJ-TRM-AIRWAY-01
Last updated: February 2026
A 25-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle collision with blunt trauma to the right chest. He is in severe respiratory distress and has paradoxical movement of the right anterior chest wall that worsens with inspiration. Chest X-ray shows fractures of the right 2nd–4th ribs at more than one site. Breath sounds are present bilaterally, and there is no tracheal deviation. What is the most appropriate initial management?
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