On a crashing patient with suspected tension pneumo in bay 3 at 02:15, where are you sticking and what catheter are you grabbing? I’m team 4th–5th intercostal space at the anterior to mid-axillary line with a 14g, ≥8 cm catheter — anyone still going 2nd ICS MCL or shorter?
Agree: 4–5th ICS MAL, 8 cm 14g; ‘just above the rib.’ Obese? Grab 10 cm?
At 02:15 with a crasher, I’m 4–5th ICS at the anterior axillary line with a 14g ≥8 cm, but I’ll do a 3‑second US sweep to mark the exact interspace and avoid breast/pec — , blind sticks fail. If there’s no immediate hiss/pressure drop or the chest wall looks thick on US, I skip a second needle and go straight to finger thoracostomy. @taylor_hart87 do you keep a 10 cm for the big folks?
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