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Aim <p>This investigation explored the contribution of lung ultrasonography to the evaluation of pneumothorax and additional pulmonary disorders in pediatric emergency department patients with chest pain.</p> Methods <p>The study was conducted as a prospective observational study and enrolled children aged 5–17 years who were evaluated for chest pain in the pediatric emergency department between January and June 2025. Patients without a previously diagnosed cardiac pathology, who provided informed consent, and who had no known malignancy, congenital airway anomalies or chronic lung disease other than asthma were included in the study. All included patients underwent posteroanterior chest radiography followed by bedside lung ultrasound examination. Ultrasonographic findings related to pneumonia and pneumothorax were assessed and compared with final clinical diagnoses. Thoracic ultrasonography examinations were initially performed by a physician certified in ultrasonography with at least one year of experience and were independently reviewed by a team consisting of another ultrasonography-certified physician and a radiologist, including an investigator with more than eight years of experience in lung ultrasonography.</p> Results <p>During the study period, 49,173 pediatric emergency department visits were documented, of which 678 (3.3%) were related to complaints of chest pain. The final study cohort consisted of 106 patients with a median age of 15 years (53.8% male). Abnormal lung ultrasonography findings were identified in 21 patients. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, while pneumothorax was identified in two patients. In both cases of pneumothorax, lung ultrasound findings were confirmed by chest computed tomography following inconclusive findings on posteroanterior chest radiography. In our study group, pneumothorax was identified in 1.9% (<i>n</i> = 2) of the patients evaluated for chest pain using lung ultrasound.</p> Conclusions <p>Among pediatric patients assessed in the emergency department for chest pain, lung ultrasonography offers a practical and reliable approach for the early detection of pneumothorax. The combination of bedside availability and the lack of radiation exposure supports its potential role within the diagnostic workup, as suggested by this preliminary investigation.</p>

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Point-of-care lung ultrasound in the evaluation of chest pain in a pediatric emergency department

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月22日

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  • Mustafa Ozgul,
  • Ilknur Fidanci,
  • Busra Bilgin Kocak,
  • Omer Kocak,
  • Medine Aysin Tasar

摘要

Aim

This investigation explored the contribution of lung ultrasonography to the evaluation of pneumothorax and additional pulmonary disorders in pediatric emergency department patients with chest pain.

Methods

The study was conducted as a prospective observational study and enrolled children aged 5–17 years who were evaluated for chest pain in the pediatric emergency department between January and June 2025. Patients without a previously diagnosed cardiac pathology, who provided informed consent, and who had no known malignancy, congenital airway anomalies or chronic lung disease other than asthma were included in the study. All included patients underwent posteroanterior chest radiography followed by bedside lung ultrasound examination. Ultrasonographic findings related to pneumonia and pneumothorax were assessed and compared with final clinical diagnoses. Thoracic ultrasonography examinations were initially performed by a physician certified in ultrasonography with at least one year of experience and were independently reviewed by a team consisting of another ultrasonography-certified physician and a radiologist, including an investigator with more than eight years of experience in lung ultrasonography.

Results

During the study period, 49,173 pediatric emergency department visits were documented, of which 678 (3.3%) were related to complaints of chest pain. The final study cohort consisted of 106 patients with a median age of 15 years (53.8% male). Abnormal lung ultrasonography findings were identified in 21 patients. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, while pneumothorax was identified in two patients. In both cases of pneumothorax, lung ultrasound findings were confirmed by chest computed tomography following inconclusive findings on posteroanterior chest radiography. In our study group, pneumothorax was identified in 1.9% (n = 2) of the patients evaluated for chest pain using lung ultrasound.

Conclusions

Among pediatric patients assessed in the emergency department for chest pain, lung ultrasonography offers a practical and reliable approach for the early detection of pneumothorax. The combination of bedside availability and the lack of radiation exposure supports its potential role within the diagnostic workup, as suggested by this preliminary investigation.