An RT is examining a patient suspected to have a left-sided tension pneumothorax. During in-spection and palpation, the RT notices the patient's trachea has shifted to the left. Is the patient's diagnosis correct?

a. Yes, the patient may have left-sided ten-sion pneumothorax.
b. No, the patient may have left upper lobe atelectasis.
c. No, the patient may have right lower lobe pneumonia.
d. No, patient may have left-sided large pleural effusion.

ANS: B
The trachea shifts away from areas with increased air, fluid, or tissue (e.g., in tension pneumo-thorax or large pleural effusion) and toward atelectasis. In general, abnormalities in the lung bases do not shift the trachea.