Clinician-performed Beside Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Traumatic Pneumothorax.

Authors

Bon S. Ku, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Jason M. Fields, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Brendan Carr, University of PennsylvaniaFollow
Worth W Everett, University of Pennsylvania
Vincent H Gracias, Robert Wood Johnson University
Anthony J Dean, University of PennsylvaniaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2013

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It was published in: The western journal of emergency medicine.

Volume 14, Issue 2, March 2013, Pages 103-8.

The published version is available at DOI:10.5811/westjem.2012.12.12663. Copyright © California Digital Library

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies have reported conflicting results regarding the utility of ultrasound in the diagnosis of traumatic pneumothorax (PTX) because they have used sonologists with extensive experience. This study evaluates the characteristics of ultrasound for PTX for a large cohort of trauma and emergency physicians.

METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study on a convenience sample of patients presenting to a trauma center who had a thoracic ultrasound (TUS) evaluation for PTX performed after the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma exam. Sonologists recorded their findings prior to any other diagnostic studies. The results of TUS were compared to one or more of the following: chest computed tomography, escape of air on chest tube insertion, or supine chest radiography followed by clinical observation.

RESULTS: There were 549 patients enrolled. The median injury severity score of the patients was 5 (inter-quartile range [IQR] 1-14); 36 different sonologists performed TUS. Forty-seven of the 549 patients had traumatic PTX, for an incidence of 9%. TUS correctly identified 27/47 patients with PTX for a sensitivity of 57% (confidence interval [CI] 42-72%). There were 3 false positive cases of TUS for a specificity of 99% (CI 98%-100%). A "wet" chest radiograph reading done in the trauma bay showed a sensitivity of 40% (CI 23-59) and a specificity of 100% (99-100).

CONCLUSION: In a large heterogenous group of clinicians who typically care for trauma patients, the sonographic evaluation for pneumothorax was as accurate as supine chest radiography. Thoracic ultrasound may be helpful in the initial evaluation of patients with truncal trauma.

Recommended Citation

Ku, Bon S.; Fields, Jason M.; Carr, Brendan; Everett, Worth W; Gracias, Vincent H; and Dean, Anthony J, "Clinician-performed Beside Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Traumatic Pneumothorax." (2013). Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers. Paper 26.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/emfp/26

PubMed ID

23599841