Ultrasonography Versus Chest Radiography After Chest Tube Removal for the Detection of Pneumothorax

Background: Bedside ultrasound technology is an innovative, cost-effective, safe, and reproducible method used to make efficient decisions that directly affect the care of critical care patients. Purpose: To validate the use of ultrasound technology when compared with the use of standard chest radiography for the detection of pneumothorax following chest tube removal. Methods: A prospective observational comparison study of 50 cardiothoracic patients with surgically placed pleural chest tubes was conducted. The accuracy of bedside ultrasound technol-ogy was compared with standard chest radiography to detect pneumothorax. Results: The sample kappa statistic was 1.000, indicating a perfect agreement between bedside ultrasonography and chest radiography in the detection of pneumothorax. Completion of the bedside ultrasound procedure took significantly less time than chest radiography. Conclusions: Bedside ultrasound technology is as accurate as chest radiography in detecting pneumothorax following chest tube removal and can save institutions' time and money.