I was talking with some guys today about decompressing a TPT and our service and all services in the country still use a three sided dressing (chest seals are too expensive) when treating a penetrating chest wound.

I mentioned that in the USA there seems to be a move towards fully occlusive dressings for both entry and exit wounds and then decompress the TPT if it develops. I’m not sure where I got this info from but it was probably EMT life combined with the fact that most of the tactical medical suppliers sell twin occlusive chest seals instead of valved seals such as the Asherman.

So what is the theory behind using an occlusive dressing instead of a 3 sided dressing or valved chest seal?

Why would you not just prevent the pneumo from forming in the first place by using the 3 sided dressing?

With the increase in GSW in the USA v Australia I figured someone on here would know the deal.