A 28-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after sustaining a stab wound to the right lower chest during an altercation. On arrival, his blood pressure is 115/75 mmHg, heart rate is 105/min, and respiratory rate is 22/min. Oxygen saturation is 94% on room air. Primary survey reveals a 2-cm laceration in the right fifth intercostal space at the midaxillary line. The trachea is midline. Breath sounds are decreased over the right hemithorax, and dullness to percussion is noted at the right lung base. An extended bedside focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) confirms a moderate right-sided hemothorax. Two large-bore intravenous lines are established, and fluid resuscitation is initiated.
Arrange the following steps in the most appropriate sequential order for the standard evaluation and management of this patient's injury.
- 1Perform a tube thoracostomy to evacuate the pleural space
- 2Obtain a post-procedural portable chest radiograph to assess tube position
- 3Quantify the ongoing hourly volume of blood drainage
- 4Proceed to exploratory thoracotomy if drainage exceeds 200 mL/hr for 2 to 4 hours