Low Diagnostic Accuracy of Transthoracic Ultrasound for the Assessment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in the Emergency Setting: A Multicentric Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: Pneumothorax (PNX) represents a common clinical condition in emergency departments (EDs), requiring prompt recognition and treatment. The role of transthoracic ultrasounds (TUSs) in the diagnosis of PNX is still debated. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of TUSs in the detection of spontaneous PNX in EDs. Methods: A total of 637 consecutive adult patients who presented to the EDs of four Italian hospitals complaining of acutely onset chest pain and dyspnoea were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were previous traumatic events, cardiogenic causes of pain/dyspnoea and suspected tension PNX. The absence of "lung sliding" (B-mode) and the "bar-code" sign (M-mode) were considered indicative of PNX in a TUS. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and

SUBMITTER: Quarato CMI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11355464 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature