# Ultrasound evaluation in the postoperative period for surgical treatment of thoracic infectious and inflammatory diseases

## TL;DR

The study compares ultrasound and chest X-rays for monitoring post-surgery complications in thoracic diseases, finding ultrasound to be a useful complement.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that TUSG is as effective as CXR and more accurate in detecting subcutaneous emphysema.

## Key findings

- TUSG and CXR showed similar effectiveness in predicting chest drain removal timing.
- TUSG was more accurate than CXR in detecting subcutaneous emphysema (p = 0.037).
- TUSG can complement CXR when CT is not feasible or urgent diagnosis is needed.

## Abstract

•TUSG aids post-op care, no radiation.•CXR limits: 2D, discomfort, radiation.•Study compares TUSG to CXR.•TUSG complements CXR, not a replacement.

TUSG aids post-op care, no radiation.

CXR limits: 2D, discomfort, radiation.

Study compares TUSG to CXR.

TUSG complements CXR, not a replacement.

This study aims to evaluate the role of TUSG in the postoperative period and the detection of early complications after surgical treatment, pulmonary resection, or decortication for infectious and inflammatory thoracic diseases, comparing with the standard method (Chest Radiography ‒ CXR).

Prospective non-randomized self-controlled study. Twenty-one patients over 16 years of age have undergone surgical treatment of inflammatory and infectious lung diseases. These patients were followed up with CXR and TUSG (performed on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days and/or after the chest tube removal).

Both exams demonstrated similar results regarding their ability to safely predict the adequate moment for chest drain removal. TUSG allowed chest drain removal in 30% of cases and CXR in 34%. Statistical analysis demonstrates that both exams have similar capabilities in detecting postoperative changes in the pleural space. However, the authors report that TUSG is statistically more accurate in detecting subcutaneous emphysema than CXR (p = 0.037, Kappa [κ = 0.3068]). The analysis of other parameters showed no statistical difference.

The authors conclude that TUSG in trained hands is equivalent to CXR in searching for postoperative complications regarding the surgical treatment of infectious and inflammatory thoracic diseases and can be used as a complement, and not a substitute, to CXR, when CCT is not feasible, or a more urgent diagnosis is needed.