title: Bilateral tension pneumothorax.
abstract: The report discusses three patients who presented with pulseless electrical activity (PEA), caused by chronic respiratory disease, with bilateral tension pneumothorax. In each case needle decompression failed to relieve the tension and cardiac output was restored only after the insertion of a chest tube.
authors.affiliation: A&E Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road Camberley, Surrey, UK. nicholas.castle@fph-tr.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagg
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome