Bedside Ultrasound Is as Accurate as Chest X-Ray for Diagnosing Traumatic Pneumothorax

In a prospective, observational study, researchers determined the accuracy of thoracic ultrasound for diagnosing traumatic pneumothorax in a convenience sample of 549 patients with blunt or penetrating truncal trauma. Evaluations were performed by 36 emergency physicians and trauma surgeons who received training in use of bedside ultrasound to diagnose pneumothorax. The ultrasound results were compared to a composite gold standard of chest computed tomography (CT), supine plain chest x-ray followed by observation, or escape of air on insertion of a chest tube.

The incidence of pneumothorax was 9%. The sensitivities of ultrasound and plain chest x-ray were 57% and 40%, respectively, and specificities were 99% and 100%. All pneumothoraces note…