Diagnostic Value of Sonography in Detecting Hemothorax and its Size in Blunt Trauma Patients

Introduction: Hemothorax is one of the most prevalent complications after thoracic trauma. Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (e-FAST) is one of the diagnostic methods for hemothorax assessment. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of e-FAST in detecting hemothorax and its size in patients with blunt thoracic trauma. Methods: This cross-sectional diagnostic assessment was conducted on ۴۰۰ adult patients with blunt trauma who needed a chest CT scan. Chest X-ray (CXR), sonography, and chest CT scans were performed and hemothorax size was assessed with sonography and CT-scan. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive or negative predictive values of sonography and CXR were calculated. Hemothorax size on sonography was compared with the results of CT-scan as the gold standard. Results: The mean age of participants was ۴۳.۶۷±۲۲.۰۳. Based on CT scan findings, ۱۷۶ participants (۴۴%) had a hemothorax. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and correct classification rate of sonography were ۷۹%, ۹۹.۱%, ۹۸.۶%, ۸۵.۷%, and ۹۰.۲%, respectively. The accuracy of sonography was ۹۷.۱% for small hemothorax, ۴۶.۹% for medium hemothorax, and ۳۳.۳% for large hemothorax. Conclusion: Sonography is a sensitive diagnostic modality for the detection of hemothorax in multiple trauma patients but tends to underestimate moderate to large-sized hemothorax. Chest sonography can be an acceptable imaging modality if a CT scan is not available or desired. Keywords: Hemothorax, sonography, trauma, e-FAST.

کلیدواژه ها:

hemothorax ، Sonography ، Trauma ، e-FAST