Significance of radiographer awareness in Pneumothorax detection

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to aware and educated a radiographer of certain pathological conditions seen on chest xray specifically we are dealing with types and severity of pneumothorax and the quality of information a radiographer communicate to his primary team for evaluation. Radiographer can identify or detect pneumothorax by taking x-rays in three positions i-e upright, supine or decubitis with complete awareness of diverse conditions of pneumothorax. For suitable imaging radiographer should know about position, safety of the patient and the techniques of Breath holding during exposure. Whereas ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) should be kept standard. In our study mostly cases were of tension pneumothorax in which immediate decompression of thorax is mandatory and it requires instant action as on x-ray film as lung marking diminishes in this condition. According to radiological policy for panic conditions the chest x- rays were observed through PACS after every two hours. We evaluated the role of radiographer in observing pneumothorax and how it is his/her utmost responsibility to inform their primary team or the concerned radiologist urgently. We observed 36 panic pneumothorax out of 2865 portable chest x-rays of admitted patients from May 2012 till November 2012. Out of these 36 cases radiographers correctly identified 28 cases while 6 were missed when compared with radiologists detection. We concluded that 77% of radiographers are aware of panic conditions detected on chest x-ray but we find it very necessary to aware and educate radiographers more particularly to detect pneumothorax and related pathologies on chest x-rays in order to improve proper patient care in health care system and maintain required standards.