The authors present a small prospective observational study designed to test the ability of Micropower Impulse Radar technology to detect a traumatic pneumothorax at the bedside. If ultimately found to be effective, this would be a clinically relevant and practical application of this technology. Using a non–Food and Drug Administration–approved device called the PneumoScan, four locations on each hemithorax were tested for the presence of a pneumothorax, using computed tomography as the criterion standard. All patients with clinically significant pneumothoraces requiring tube thoracostomy were detected for a sensitivity of 100%. It failed however to detect two thirds of the pneumothoraces that did not require thoracostomy. Its ability to diagnose hemothorax has also not been characterized. Therefore, its role as the sole thoracic screening examination in the resuscitation area is unclear. Based on these results, a positive chest x-ray and/or ultrasonography will still be necessary. There were also several false-positive cases contributing to a specificity of only 91%, leaving the reader unsure if a confirmatory test will be required before chest tube insertion for a positive finding. Therefore, whereas there are many purported benefits including portability and repeatability, its role in the diagnostic workup of the trauma patient is unclear, especially with respect to chest x-ray and ultrasonography.
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