Trauma Care After Resuscitation (TCAR) Practice Exam

In simple pneumothorax, where is the primary problem in the tissue oxygenation cascade?

Perfusion Ventilation Diffusion Oxygen utilization

Correct Answer:

Ventilation

Explanation:

Ventilation is the primary problem because a simple pneumothorax collapses part of the lung, reducing the amount of air that reaches the alveoli. With less alveolar air, the oxygen partial pressure in the alveoli falls, so the gradient for diffusion into the capillary blood diminishes. Even if perfusion and cellular oxygen use are still present, the starting point of the cascade—oxygen entering the alveoli—is impaired. In short, impaired ventilation drives the downstream limitations in oxygen transfer, making ventilation the best explanation for the tissue oxygenation deficit in this scenario.

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