A patient arrives in the emergency department after a multi-…

A patient arrives in the emergency department after a multi-car collision. On assessment, the respiratory therapist notes absent breath sounds on the left side of the chest along with a hyperresonant percussion tone. The trachea is deviated to the right. The patient’s heart rate is 48/min, respiratory rate is 32/min, and blood pressure is 62/38 mm Hg. Which intervention should the respiratory therapist recommend first?

A patient presenting with dyspnea reports a dry, non-product…

A patient presenting with dyspnea reports a dry, non-productive cough. On examination, breath sounds are decreased on the left, tactile fremitus is reduced, and percussion over the left lung field is dull. The respiratory therapist should suspect which condition?