Recommended needle size and site for tension pneumothorax decompression

A meta-analysis of 51 studies reveals a 32.84% failure rate for needle decompression in tension pneumothorax. Researchers suggest a 7 cm needle for right-sided decompression at either the 5th intercostal space along the midaxillary line or the 2nd intercostal space midclavicular line. For left-sided cases, they recommend the 2nd midclavicular line to mitigate the risk of cardiac injury. These findings highlight variability and potential biases in existing practices, emphasizing the need for individualized clinical decisions.