PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What should be placed over the catheter after decompressing with a needle?

1. Pressure bandage

2. Butterfly valve

3. Flutter valve

4. Hemostatic dressing

The correct answer is: Flutter valve

The use of a flutter valve after decompressing with a needle is appropriate because this device allows air to escape while preventing air from re-entering the pleural space. This is particularly useful in managing a tension pneumothorax or in patients undergoing procedures like chest tube placement. The flutter valve, often referred to in clinical settings as a one-way valve, permits the expulsion of air or fluid from the pleural space during expiration while preventing the re-entry of air during inspiration. This mechanism is crucial in maintaining negative pressure in the pleural cavity, thus promoting re-expansion of the lung following decompression. Placing a flutter valve over the catheter ensures that the therapeutic intervention is effective, helping to alleviate symptoms and complications associated with excessive pleural pressure. This choice is critical for patient safety and for the successful management of conditions that involve air in the pleural space. Other devices, like a pressure bandage, a butterfly valve, or a hemostatic dressing, do not provide the same functionality in allowing one-way air movement as the flutter valve does.