Innovations : technology and techniques in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery
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Innovations (Phila) · Mar 2021
Immediate Pneumothorax Diagnosis by Surgical Residents Using Portable Ultrasound.
Feasibility of diagnosis of pneumothorax using handheld ultrasound by non-radiologists shows inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of portable ultrasound for immediate diagnosis of pneumothorax by general surgery residents who underwent short training. ⋯ We found high accuracy rates of 2-point ultrasound in immediate pneumothorax diagnosis when performed by surgical residents who underwent a short ultrasound training. This is a fast and repeatable test, and has the potential for successful implementation in prehospital and military scenarios as well, minimizing unnecessary chest tube placements.