Which of the following is a common indicator of tension pneumothorax?

A common indicator of tension pneumothorax is hypotension and tracheal deviation. When air accumulates in the pleural space due to a tear or injury, it creates increased pressure that can collapse one lung and compress the mediastinum, leading to hemodynamic instability. Hypotension occurs because the compressed lung and great vessels limit venous return to the heart, reducing cardiac output. Tracheal deviation is also a hallmark sign; the mediastinum shifts away from the side of the tension pneumothorax due to the pressure imbalance, causing the trachea to deviate towards the opposite side.

In comparison, severe abdominal pain, normal breathing sounds, and bradycardia are not characteristic indicators of tension pneumothorax. Abdominal pain may be more indicative of other conditions, normal breathing sounds do not align with the expected findings, and bradycardia is not a typical response related to the physiological changes occurring in tension pneumothorax. Thus, the presence of hypotension and tracheal deviation provides a clear diagnostic clue for this critical condition.