Final answer:
Insertion of a chest tube to the left chest is the immediate action required for a patient with a sucking chest wound who exhibits shortness of breath and tracheal deviation to the right, indicating a tension pneumothorax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient with a sucking chest wound showing signs of respiratory distress and tracheal deviation requires immediate medical attention. The insertion of a chest tube to the left chest is indicated immediately.
When a sucking chest wound occurs, it allows air to enter the chest cavity with each inhalation, potentially leading to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). The use of sterile petroleum jelly gauze is a temporary measure to prevent air from entering while allowing the exit of air from the chest cavity. However, if the patient's condition deteriorates, as indicated by becoming short of breath and exhibiting tracheal deviation, it suggests the development of a tension pneumothorax which is a life-threatening condition requiring urgent decompression of the chest.
A chest tube, also known as a thoracostomy tube, re-establishes negative pressure in the pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand. Intubation, while necessary in some cases to maintain an open airway, does not directly address the complication of a pneumothorax. Pleurodesis is a procedure to adhere the lung to the chest wall and prevent future pneumothoraxes but is not an immediate treatment in an emergency setting. Finally, merely elevating a side of the petroleum jelly gauze will not relieve a tension pneumothorax and is inadequate as a sole intervention.