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Ultrasound to detect haemothorax after chest injury

Guy, Kings and St Thomas’ Medical School, London, UK

Report by Kirsty McEwan, Medical Student
Checked by Peter Thompson, Consultant
Guy, Kings and St Thomas’ Medical School, London, UK

ABSTRACT
A short cut review was carried out to establish whether ultrasonography is as sensitive and specific as chest x ray or computed tomography (CT) scan in detecting haemothorax after chest trauma. Thirty-nine papers were found using the reported searches, of which six presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are shown in table 3. It is concluded that ultrasonography is more sensitive and as specific as chest x ray at detecting haemothorax in patients with chest trauma.