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Lung Ultrasound Versus Chest Radiography for Detection of Pneumothorax

NCT ID: NCT06022081

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-27

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center annually provides assistance to approximately 600 cardiac surgeries and 1500 trauma patients, many of whom require chest tubes to prevent blood and fluids from accumulating in the pleural cavities surrounding the heart. During the removal of chest tubes, there is a risk of air leaking into these cavities, leading to pneumothorax, a critical condition occurring in approximately 5-26% of cases, associated with increased complications and mortality.

Currently, the diagnosis of pneumothorax is primarily based on chest X-rays (CXR), despite their limitations and low reliability. As an alternative method, lung ultrasound (LUS) offers several advantages: it is safer, less expensive, and less painful for patients compared to CXR. However, there is a lack of comparative data on the accuracy and interrater reliability of these two diagnostic approaches after chest tube removal.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of lung ultrasound performed by medical trainees in diagnosing pneumothorax in cardiac and trauma patients. By comparing LUS to CXR, the investigators seek to determine if LUS provides a more reliable and precise diagnosis. This study has the potential to enhance patient care by establishing a more effective and accessible method for diagnosing pneumothorax post-chest tube removal.

Detailed Description

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Diagnosing and promptly treating pneumothorax (PNX) is critical, as it is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital stay for patients. Following cardiac surgery, timely identification of PNX is particularly vital due to patients' reduced cardiopulmonary reserve, which can rapidly lead to life-threatening situations. While computed tomography (CT) is highly accurate in diagnosing PNX, its routine use for screening is impractical due to high radiation exposure, cost, and limited availability. Currently, the standard method for PNX detection is chest X-ray (CXR), but its reliability is suboptimal, resulting in potential misdiagnoses and delays in patient care.

An alternate method for detecting PNX is using lung ultrasound (LUS). LUS is safe, portable compared to CXR, has the potential for faster results and higher accuracy relative to CXR. LUS can also be carried out by appropriate trained nurses and medical trainees, instead of requiring an expert radiographer. This prospective, single-center, observational, cross-sectional, cohort, feasibility pilot trial assesses trainee-performed bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) for detecting PNX and testing feasibility for a multicenter observational prospective study.

The investigators will also compare PNX detection using LUS by novices compared to experts, interrater reliability and the time required from chest/mediastinal tube removal to diagnostic report for LUS. All participants will undergo assessment for PNX using both LUS and CXR completed independently (by study-trained critical care nurse/surgical trainee or an expert radiologist, respectively) and results will be compared between the two modalities.

The successful implementation of LUS could lead to streamlined patient care and improved outcomes for cardiac surgery and trauma patients.

Conditions

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Pneumothorax

Keywords

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Pneumothorax Lung Ultrasound Chest X-Ray Trauma patients Cardiac Surgery Chest Drain Removal

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Single-group study where the focus is on evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of both CXR and LUS for PNX detection post-tube removal in cardiac surgery and trauma patients. The study aims to compare the results of both modalities within the same group of participants to assess their performance in detecting PNX.
Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Diagnostic modalities comparison

All participants belong to a single arm. A chest X-ray (CXR) and lung ultrasound (LUS) in a predetermined order (CXR followed by LUS), will be performed sequentially for pneumothorax (PNX) detection after chest/mediastinal tube removal. There is no control group or randomization.

Group Type OTHER

Lung ultrasound to detect pneumothorax.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Within a maximum of two hours after chest tube removal, the sonographic exam will be performed with an ultrasound device to assess residual PNX using a portable ultrasound device. The examination will require patients to lie face upward and will be performed at three different sites on both sides of the patient's chest. Each chest site will be imaged for approximately 10-20 seconds, allowing a complete examination of each side in approximately 30-60 seconds. The total study time for the LUS exam is approximately 2 minutes. The results of this assessment will be compared to the standard chest x-ray performed by a radiologist who is unaware of the study.

Interventions

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Lung ultrasound to detect pneumothorax.

Within a maximum of two hours after chest tube removal, the sonographic exam will be performed with an ultrasound device to assess residual PNX using a portable ultrasound device. The examination will require patients to lie face upward and will be performed at three different sites on both sides of the patient's chest. Each chest site will be imaged for approximately 10-20 seconds, allowing a complete examination of each side in approximately 30-60 seconds. The total study time for the LUS exam is approximately 2 minutes. The results of this assessment will be compared to the standard chest x-ray performed by a radiologist who is unaware of the study.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age ≥ 18 years old.
* Cardiac and trauma patients who have had a chest/mediastinal tube removed within the past two hours in the CVICU, trauma bay, or ward.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients who had a PNX prior to mediastinal chest tube removal that required intervention.
* Patients on mechanical ventilation.
* Patients with subcutaneous emphysema due to impaired pleural line visualization.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jacobo Moreno Garijo

Staff Anesthesiologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Jacobo Moreno Garijo, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Locations

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Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Khan T, Chawla G, Daniel R, Swamy M, Dimitri WR. Is routine chest X-ray following mediastinal drain removal after cardiac surgery useful? Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2008 Sep;34(3):542-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2008.05.002. Epub 2008 Jun 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18539477 (View on PubMed)

Bell RL, Ovadia P, Abdullah F, Spector S, Rabinovici R. Chest tube removal: end-inspiration or end-expiration? J Trauma. 2001 Apr;50(4):674-7. doi: 10.1097/00005373-200104000-00013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11303163 (View on PubMed)

McCormick JT, O'Mara MS, Papasavas PK, Caushaj PF. The use of routine chest X-ray films after chest tube removal in postoperative cardiac patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002 Dec;74(6):2161-4. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(02)03982-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12643411 (View on PubMed)

Pacharn P, Heller DN, Kammen BF, Bryce TJ, Reddy MV, Bailey RA, Brasch RC. Are chest radiographs routinely necessary following thoracostomy tube removal? Pediatr Radiol. 2002 Feb;32(2):138-42. doi: 10.1007/s00247-001-0591-5. Epub 2001 Nov 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11819085 (View on PubMed)

Goodman MD, Huber NL, Johannigman JA, Pritts TA. Omission of routine chest x-ray after chest tube removal is safe in selected trauma patients. Am J Surg. 2010 Feb;199(2):199-203. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.03.011.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20113700 (View on PubMed)

Eisenberg RL, Khabbaz KR. Are chest radiographs routinely indicated after chest tube removal following cardiac surgery? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Jul;197(1):122-4. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.5856.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21701019 (View on PubMed)

Diaz R, Patel KB, Almeida P, Shekar SP, Hernandez F, Mehta JP. Are Chest Radiographs Routinely Indicated After Chest Tubes Placed for Non-Surgical Reasons Are Removed? Cureus. 2020 Mar 20;12(3):e7339. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7339.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32313780 (View on PubMed)

Tocino IM, Miller MH, Fairfax WR. Distribution of pneumothorax in the supine and semirecumbent critically ill adult. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1985 May;144(5):901-5. doi: 10.2214/ajr.144.5.901.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3872573 (View on PubMed)

Galbois A, Ait-Oufella H, Baudel JL, Kofman T, Bottero J, Viennot S, Rabate C, Jabbouri S, Bouzeman A, Guidet B, Offenstadt G, Maury E. Pleural ultrasound compared with chest radiographic detection of pneumothorax resolution after drainage. Chest. 2010 Sep;138(3):648-55. doi: 10.1378/chest.09-2224. Epub 2010 Apr 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20382717 (View on PubMed)

Ball CG, Kirkpatrick AW, Feliciano DV. The occult pneumothorax: what have we learned? Can J Surg. 2009 Oct;52(5):E173-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19865549 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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5854

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id