Electrical impedance tomography can rapidly detect small pneumothoraces in surfactant-depleted piglets

Abstract

Purpose: Diagnosis of pneumothorax relies on clinical suspicion and chest X-ray, and is often delayed. We aimed to determine whether electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can accurately identify the presence of surgically created pneumothoraces before significant changes in clinical parameters. Methods: Six anesthetized and muscle-relaxed piglets with surfactant-depleted lungs were studied. Following chest drain insertion into the right ventral chest, 10-20 ml aliquots of air were instilled into the pleural space to a maximum volume of 200 ml. The pneumothorax was drained by attaching a Heimlich valve to the chest drain. At each instillation and after draining the pneumothorax, global and re..