What Is a Needle Decompression Kit

Our patented ARS® Needle Decompression Kits are designed to provide the appropriate length needle/catheter to penetrate the pleural space in 99% of patients. … The brown color-coded sterilization band and the catheter hub help to distinguish it from the original 14 gauge version, which is orange.

What is a decompression needle used for?

A needle decompression is a medical procedure that is most commonly used to treat patients suffering from a tension pneumothorax. A tension pneumothorax occurs when air pressure builds up in the space between the inner and outer membranes that surround each lung, an area known as the pleural space.

Can paramedics do needle decompression?

Most paramedics are trained and protocolized to perform needle decompression for immediate relief of a tension pneumothorax. However, if an incorrect diagnosis of tension pneumothorax is made in the prehospital setting, the patient’s life may be endangered by unnecessary invasive procedures.