Multiple choice

A child presented with respiratory distress, was brought to emergency with bag and mask ventilation. Now he is intubated. Chest x-ray shows right sided deviation of mediastinum with scaphoid abdomen. His pulse Impulse has shifted to the right. What is the next step?

  1. Remove the Endotracheal tube

  2. Put a nasogastric tube

  3. Surgery

  4. Tube thoracostomy

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The findings (mediastinal shift to right, scaphoid abdomen, pulse impulse shifted right) in an intubated child indicate left-sided tension pneumothorax or massive gastric distension from air trapping. Placing a nasogastric tube to decompress the stomach is the immediate next step. Removing ETT is unsafe, surgery is premature, and chest tube is for pneumothorax (but rule out gastric issue first).