What is the purpose of placing a chest tube after needle decompression?

• A. To monitor intrathoracic pressure
• B. To evacuate air/bleed and re-expand the lung
• C. To prevent infection
• D. To administer antibiotics

Answer: (B)

The main idea is definitive management after a tension pneumothorax: place a chest tube to drain the pleural space and re-expand the lung. Needle decompression relieves the immediate pressure, but it’s temporary. A chest tube provides continuous drainage of air (and any blood) from the pleural space, which stops ongoing air leak or bleeding, restores negative intrapleural pressure, and allows the lung to re-expand. It’s typically connected to an underwater seal or suction to permit one-way drainage and prevent air from re-entering the chest. While infection prevention or antibiotics are important in care overall, the chest tube’s primary purpose in this scenario is to evacuate air or blood and re-expand the lung.