PNEUMOTHORAX FOLLOWING ULTRASOUND GUIDED THORACENTESIS; DOES OPERATOR’S EXPERIENCE MATTER?

Abstract

Aim: To determine the frequency of pneumothorax following ultrasound guided thoracentesis in our department and its association with operator’s experience in causation of pneumothorax.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shifa International Hospital (SIH), Islamabad from January 2010 to April, 2012. A total of 362 ultrasound guided thoracentesis were performed followed by a chest radiograph between January 2010 and April, 2012 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. All procedures were performed by radiology consultants and residents. Generally 18 and 16 G cannulas were used. A few were done with 16 and 18 G spinal needle and 21G syringe needle. Relevant data was collected from hospital data base system on the performa and was analyzed for demographic variables, frequency of pneumothorax, and its association with operator’s experience (residents or consultants) by applying chi square test. P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.   

Results: 309 patients had thoracentesis while performed by residents and 53 by consultants. Pneumothorax occurred in 22 of these 362 cases with an overall frequency of 6 %. Of these 22 cases of pneumothorax, 19 had undergone thoracentesis by residents (6.1%) and 3 by consultants (5.7%). No significant difference was observed in occurrence of pneumothorax between these two groups (p=0.59).

Conclusion: Experience of operator does not have any significant effect on causation of pneumothorax (p=0.59).

Key words: Ultrasound, pneumothorax, thoracentesis.