Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Lung Ultrasound Versus Chest Radiography for Detection of Pneumothorax

This research looks at how well lung ultrasound can find a collapsed lung, called a pneumothorax, compared to standard X-rays. Many patients who have had heart surgery or major injuries need tubes in their chest, and removing these tubes can sometimes lead to a pneumothorax. This is a serious condition that needs quick treatment. Currently, X-rays are used, but they have limitations. Lung ultrasound might offer a safer, cheaper, and faster way to diagnose this problem. The study is checking if ultrasound, even when performed by trainees, is accurate and reliable. The goal is to improve patient care by finding a better way to spot a collapsed lung after chest tube removal.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Enrolment target

Start

27 Sep 2023

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Pneumothorax

What is this study about?

When patients have major heart surgery or serious injuries, they sometimes need a tube placed in their chest. These tubes help to drain away blood or fluid from around the heart or lungs. After these tubes are taken out, there's a small chance of a collapsed lung, called a pneumothorax. This happens when air leaks into the space around the lung. A collapsed lung is a serious medical issue that needs to be found and treated quickly, especially in patients who are still recovering from surgery or injury.

Currently, doctors mainly use chest X-rays to check for a collapsed lung. However, X-rays aren't always perfect at spotting the problem, and they also involve some radiation exposure. This study is looking at another method called lung ultrasound. This is a scan that uses sound waves to create pictures of the lungs. It's thought to be safer, less expensive, and potentially more accurate than X-rays, and it can be done right at the patient's bedside.

The main goal of this research is to see how accurate lung ultrasound is at finding a collapsed lung after a chest tube has been removed. Doctors will compare the results from lung ultrasound with those from X-rays in the same patients. They are also checking if medical trainees can perform the ultrasound effectively. If lung ultrasound proves to be a better and more reliable way to diagnose a collapsed lung, it could lead to quicker diagnosis and improved care for many patients.

Key takeaways

This study compares two ways to check for a collapsed lung: lung ultrasound and X-rays.
It focuses on patients who have recently had chest tubes removed after heart surgery or serious injury.
Lung ultrasound might be a safer, cheaper, and faster option than X-rays.
The study also checks if medical trainees can accurately perform lung ultrasounds.
The aim is to find a better way to diagnose collapsed lungs and improve patient care.
Participation involves no extra medication and does not affect your standard hospital care.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to take part in this study, you must be at least 18 years old. You would also need to be a patient who has had heart surgery or a major injury and has recently had a tube removed from your chest (within the last two hours). This applies if you are in the heart surgery recovery unit, the trauma area, or a hospital ward.

You would not be able to join the study if you had a collapsed lung that needed treatment before your chest tube was removed. Also, if you are currently on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilation), or if you have a condition called 'subcutaneous emphysema' which makes it hard to see the lining of your lung with ultrasound, you wouldn't be able to participate. This is because these conditions could affect the study results.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you had heart surgery or a major injury?
Have you had a chest tube removed within the last two hours?
Did you NOT have a collapsed lung needing treatment before your chest tube was removed?
Are you NOT on a breathing machine (ventilator)?
Are you NOT diagnosed with subcutaneous emphysema?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will have two different checks for a collapsed lung after your chest tube is removed. One check will be with a standard chest X-ray, which is usually done anyway. The other check will be a lung ultrasound, performed at your bedside. Both these checks will be done independently by different medical staff, and the results will be compared. There are no medications involved in this study, and no extra follow-up visits beyond your usual hospital care. The assessments will happen shortly after your chest tube removal, so your participation will fit within your existing hospital stay.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part include contributing to medical knowledge that could lead to improved diagnosis and care for future patients. While a chest X-ray is part of standard care, participating means you would also have a lung ultrasound performed. This does not involve any known additional risks beyond what you would experience with routine care. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical treatment.

Locations (1)

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada

Common questions

What is a pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax is when air leaks into the space between your lung and your chest wall, causing your lung to collapse. It's a serious condition that needs quick attention.

What is lung ultrasound?

Lung ultrasound uses sound waves, like those used to look at a baby in the womb, to create images of your lungs. It's safe, doesn't use radiation, and can be done at your bedside.

Why are X-rays not always good enough?

While X-rays are common, they don't always clearly show a collapsed lung, which can sometimes lead to delays or mistakes in diagnosis.

Will this study change my medical treatment?

No, this study is comparing two ways of diagnosing a collapsed lung. Your medical treatment will be decided by your doctors based on your condition, as usual.

Who will perform the lung ultrasounds?

Medical trainees who have been specifically trained for this study will perform the ultrasounds, under expert supervision, to see if they can do it effectively.