Open AccessAccuracy of auscultation in the detection of haemopneumothorax
Author(s) -
Chen ShyrChyr,
Chang KingJen,
Hsu ChienYao
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-9271
pISSN - 1102-4151
DOI - 10.1080/110241598750005516
Subject(s) - auscultation , medicine , radiography , chest radiograph , radiology , physical examination , prospective cohort study , surgery
Objective: To assess the accuracy of auscultation in the detection of haemopneumothorax. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University hospital, Taiwan. Patients: 148 patients with chest injuries admitted between July 1994 and August 1996. Main outcome measures: Correlation between the results of auscultation and radiographic findings in 148 patients with injuries to the chest. 83 (56%) had internal injuries, of whom 38 had pneumothoraces, 24 haemothoraces, and 21 haemopneumothoraces. Results: Auscultation had a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 97%, an accuracy of 89% and a positive predictive value of 97% in the detection of these injuries. Conclusions: Auscultation is not as accurate as chest radiography. Chest tubes can be inserted before chest radiography in patients in whom auscultation has indicated an injury. A chest radiograph is essential in those patients with normal breath sounds to exclude a haemopneumothorax that had been missed by auscultation. Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.