title: Using micropower impulse radar technology to screen for pneumothorax: an international bi-institutional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumothoraces (PTXs) are a common entity in thoracic trauma. Micropower impulse radar (MIR) has been able to detect PTXs in surgical patients. However, this technology has not been tested previously on trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of MIR to detect clinically significant PTXs. We hypothesized that MIR technology can effectively screen trauma patients for clinically significant PTXs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study in Level I trauma centers in Boston, Massachusetts, and Bern, Switzerland. All trauma patients undergoing a chest computed tomographic (CT) scan were eligible for the study. Consent was obtained, and readings were performed within 30 minutes before or after the CT scan. The patients had eight lung fields tested (four on each side). The qualitative and quantitative MIR results were blinded and stored on the device. We then compared the results of the MIR to the CT scan and the need for chest tube drainage. We defined PTXs as clinically significant if they required a chest tube.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 46 ± 16 years. Eighty-four percent were male. The screening test took approximately 1 minute. All but two patients had blunt chest trauma. Six true-positives, 6 false-positives, 63 true-negatives, and 0 false-negatives resulted in an overall sensitivity of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIR is an easy to use handheld technology that effectively screened patients for clinically significant PTXs, with a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100%. MIR may be used for rapid, repeatable, and ongoing surveillance of trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic study, level III.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: van der Wilden
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van der Wilden
authors.forename: Christoph E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Pascal C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Haefeli
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haefeli
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Aristomenis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Birkhan
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Birkham
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michaildou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michailidou
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sideris
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Velmahos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velmahos
authors.forename: Hasan B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fagenholz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fagenholz
authors.forename: D Dante
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Moya
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011825:Radar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications