A sucking chest wound on the left side requires which of the following dressings?

• A. An air tight dressing, with one side open
• B. Gauze and tape
• C. Pressure over the wound only
• D. An air tight dressing, leaving no part of it open

Answer: (A)

A sucking chest wound needs a sealing approach that stops air from being drawn into the chest while still giving a path for air to escape if pressure builds. An airtight dressing with one side left open does exactly that: the sealed parts keep air from leaking into the pleural space, and the small open edge acts as a flutter valve to vent air as needed, reducing the chance of a life-threatening buildup of air (tension pneumothorax). If you seal it completely with no opening, air can become trapped and pressure can rise. Gauze and tape alone may not form an airtight seal, and simply applying pressure over the wound doesn’t prevent air from entering or escaping appropriately.