Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic precision of chest radiography (CXR) and ultrasonography (US) by physicians to detect pneumothorax in trauma patients in the ED. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guideline was followed to conduct this study. Suspected pneumothorax patients were drawn from prospective and comparative studies. In addition to the US performed by physicians, patients had to get a reference standard test (CT scan of the tube thoracostomy). Systematic research was developed and carried out in the electronic databases Cochrane, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The publications published between the years 2012 and 2024 were searched that satisfied the inclusion criteria. US was found to be superior to radiography for the first evaluation of patients with serious thoracic cavity injuries. US is a useful triage method for ruling out pneumothorax in patients with chest trauma. Based on the current results, it is recommended to use the US as an adjunct in the advanced trauma life support method.

Key words: Diagnostic accuracy, chest X-rays, ultrasonography, trauma, emergency department