➤ How does tension pneumothorax present clinically and why is it emergent?
Tension pneumothorax presents with severe respiratory distress, hypotension, distended neck veins, and tracheal deviation away from the affected side. The trapped air causes mediastinal shift and impairs venous return, which can rapidly lead to cardiovascular collapse. This is a life‑threatening emergency that requires immediate decompression with needle thoracostomy followed by chest tube drainage.
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