Occlusive dressing is used to treat which of the following?

• A. A dressing on a minor cut
• B. A chest tube insertion site management
• C. Non-airtight dressing for lacerations
• D. Airtight dressing over open chest wound

Answer: (D)

An occlusive dressing is an airtight covering that prevents air and moisture from crossing the wound. Its purpose here is to seal an open chest wound so that air cannot enter the pleural space, reducing the risk of a pneumothorax or worsening a chest injury. This makes an airtight dressing over an open chest wound the best choice. A dressing for a minor cut isn’t typically airtight, and a non-airtight dressing would not provide the needed seal for a chest wound. While chest tube care involves managing air leaks around the tube, the essential idea tested is using a seal to prevent air from entering the chest cavity.