Ultrasonography of pleural effusion : the quantification of minimal detectable volume
Ultrazvočno ugotavljanje pleuralnega izliva : kako majhen volumen še lahko zaznamo

english

2001

volume 35, issue 1

Cadaver   Diagnosis   Pleural effusion   Ultrasonography

Društvo radiologije in onkologije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Background. The aim of this study was to establish a minimal volume of free thoracic fluid in the pleural space of the supine cadaver detectable by ultrasonography. Material and methods. A prospective study with an experimental model on 20 cadavers (10 male, 10 female; age 66 +- 11 yr.;height172 +- 9 cm; weight 75 +- 12.6 kg; body surface area (BSA) 1.87 +- 0.2 m2) was used. Each cadaver was punctured bilaterally in 5th or 6th intercostal space at the medioclavicular line with venous cannula infusing in NaCl 0,9% solution at randomised speed in the chest. During the procedure the laterodorsal part of the thoracic wall next to the pulmonal base and phrenicocostal sinus was ultrasonographically scanned. At the moment of the visualisation of anechogenic line pertaining to the free fluid between dorsal thoracic wall and lungs, the installation was stopped and the amount of injected fluid verified. Results. Minimal, by ultrasonography detectable amount of free fluid in the right pleural space was km 223+-52 ml with the significant positive correlation to height (r = 0.69; p < 0.001), weight (r = 0.68; p < 0.01) and the BSA (r = 0.71; p < 0.001) of cadaver. Detectable volume in the left pleural space was notably smaller than contra lateral, namely 172+-53 ml also with a significant correlation to the cadavers height (r = 0.55; p < 0.05), weight (r = 0.59; p < 0.01) and BSA (r = 0.60; p < 0.01). Conclusions. The authors affirm that ultrasonographically detectable quantity of free fluid in the chest positively correlates with height, weight and BSA of cadavers, and that the measured amount in the supine position is approximately 223 ml for the right space versus 172 ml for the left pleural space.

16.09.2009