Portable chest film accuracy in detection of abnormal intrathoracic air and fluid collections in intensive care unit patients

This paper determines the accuracy of portable chest radiographs (PCXRs) in the diagnosis of pleural, mediastinal, and lung parenchymal abnormalities in ICU patients, PCXR findings were compared with chest CT scans in 52 patients. The presence of pneumomediastinum, pneumatocele, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and chest tube location as seen on PCXRs were evaluated separately by three readers. The CT scans were considered truth. Inadequate chest tube location was defined as chest tube not in pneumothorax