Which of the following best describes a "sucking chest wound"?

• A. Air not escaping during expiration
• B. Air passing in and out during inspiration and expiration
• C. Fluid leaking from open wounds
• D. Pressure equalization in the thoracic cavity

Answer: (B)

A "sucking chest wound" refers to a type of open chest injury, typically resulting from a penetrating trauma that creates a wound in the chest wall. This wound allows air to enter the pleural space during inhalation, which can subsequently escape during exhalation, creating a disruptive breathing pattern. The hallmark of such a wound is the physical movement of air in and out of the chest through the wound itself, which is exactly what option B describes.

This phenomenon can lead to significant respiratory distress as it disrupts normal ventilation and can result in a life-threatening condition known as a tension pneumothorax if the pleural space becomes progressively filled with air. The presence of the sucking sound during respiration is primarily due to the change in pressure within the thoracic cavity as air is drawn into the wound while inhaling.

Other choices do not accurately describe this clinical situation. For instance, the notion of air not escaping during expiration would imply a closed atmosphere rather than the open nature of a sucking wound. Similarly, fluid leaking from wounds pertains more to penetrating injuries that involve blood or other fluids but does not capture the air exchange characteristic of a sucking chest wound. Lastly, pressure equalization in the thoracic cavity refers more to the effects that could occur if