Justin T. Chu, MA; Thomas Engel, MD, MPH; Matthew Chinn, MD; Benjamin W. Weston, MD, MPH
WMJ. 2026;125(1):67-70.
ABSTRACT
Background: Needle thoracostomy (NT) is a lifesaving procedure for patients with tension pneumothorax but requires correct anatomical placement to ensure effectiveness and minimize complications. We describe a novel emergency medical services (EMS) training using a lateral NT landmark device, the SAM ThoraSite, and report provider feedback on the training.
Methods: A 90-minute training was delivered to EMS providers. Providers completed pre- and post-training surveys regarding confidence in procedural performance, concerns about complications, and overall educational experience.
Results: The response rate was 79.4%. Post-training confidence in correctly performing NT increased significantly (7.1 vs 9.0, P < .001). Participants also reported higher satisfaction with this training compared with prior needle thoracostomy education (6.9 vs 9.3, P < .001).
Discussion: A novel EMS educational session incorporating the ThoraSite landmark device improved provider confidence in NT performance and increased satisfaction with training.