Final answer:
The immediate management of tension pneumothorax is to perform needle decompression. This procedure relieves the pressure on the lungs and other vital structures by allowing trapped air to escape, which is necessary before confirming the diagnosis with imaging or initiating other treatments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immediate management of tension pneumothorax involves performing needle decompression. In a tension pneumothorax, air collects in the pleural space and cannot escape, creating rising pressure in the chest that compresses the lungs and other vital structures, which is life-threatening. Immediate decompression is essential to stabilize the affected individual. Needle decompression is a procedure where a needle or catheter is inserted into the pleural space, usually in the second intercostal space at the midclavicular line, to allow the trapped air to escape, thereby relieving the pressure. Neither antibiotics nor physiotherapy address the immediate life-threatening issue, and while a chest X-ray can confirm the diagnosis, it does not take priority over the emergent intervention needed for stabilizing the patient. Thus, performing a needle decompression remains the first line of management before further diagnostics and treatments are considered.