Which statement is true about a sucking chest wound?

Which statement is true about a sucking chest wound?

• A. It does not affect breathing
• B. It results from penetrating trauma, can cause a lung to collapse
• C. It results from blunt trauma
• D. It is best treated by sealing the wound airtight

Answer: (B)

A sucking chest wound is a penetrating chest injury that creates a pathway for air to be drawn into the chest cavity with each breath, leading to a collapsed lung (pneumothorax). This is why the statement is true: the wound results from penetrating trauma and can cause a lung to collapse. Management focuses on covering the wound with an occlusive dressing and sealing it on three sides (or using a flutter-valve dressing) to prevent air from entering the chest while allowing trapped air to escape; sealing airtight on all sides can trap air and worsen a tension pneumothorax. The wound does affect breathing, it’s not caused by blunt trauma, and the typical treatment is not a completely airtight seal.