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Description of Bullous Emphysema Using Lung Ultrasound and Comparison to the Characteristics of Pneumothorax

Completed
Conditions
Pulmonary Emphysema
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Lung ultrasound
Diagnostic Test: Chest radiography
Diagnostic Test: Pulmonary function tests
Other: Clinical examination
Registration Number
NCT04012359
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Rouen
Brief Summary

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a frequent disease affecting a growing number of adults in the world which is responsible for a large public health burden through heavy morbidity and mortality.

Emphysema is one of a wide spectrum of pulmonary complications linked to COPD, defined as the abnormal permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles accompanied by destruction of the alveolar wall. Disease progression is correlated to worsening and enlargement of emphysema lesions, sometimes conflating in sizeable bullae, deleterious to normal mechanical pulmonary function. Bullous emphysema (BE) is sometimes eligible to invasive curative treatment through surgery or interventional bronchoscopy.

Diagnosis of BE relies on computerized tomodensitometry (CT), the gold-standard for evaluating pulmonary parenchyma. However, CT is not always available, and bullous emphysema can present as pneumothorax on chest radiography.

The practice of lung ultrasound is currently growing in respiratory medicine and emergency departments owing to an increasing amount of evidence showcasing its reliability as a diagnostic tool, most notably for pneumothorax and other pleural diseases. Despite BE having been reported to present similarly to pneumothorax in ultrasound, its characteristics have not yet been precisely described.

The primary aim of this study is to describe BE using lung ultrasound. Participants with known BE on CT will undergo a simple ultrasound examination. The secondary aim is to compare the characteristics of BE to those of pneumothorax using lung ultrasound. To achieve this, a second group of participants with currently treated pneumothorax will also undergo lung ultrasound.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria
  • Bullous emphysema group

    • Consultation or scheduled hospitalization in a Pulmonary Medicine department
    • Past medical history of emphysema on computerized tomodensitometry dating less than two years
    • Bullous emphysema with subpleural contact of two or more intercostal spaces on tomodensitometry
  • Pneumothorax group

    • Hospitalized in a Pulmonary Medicine department for the treatment of a pneumothorax
    • Patent pneumothorax visible on chest x-ray dating less than 24 hours
Exclusion Criteria
  • Bullous emphysema group

    • Current pneumothorax
    • Past medical history of pleurodesis or pleural thickening homolateral to the bullous emphysema
  • All patients

    • Organ failure (hemodynamic, neurological, respiratory)
    • Recent thoracic surgery dating less than 7 days with subcutaneous emphysema
    • Minor participant or otherwise deprived of their freedom or their ability to consent freely
    • No affiliation to social security

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PneumothoraxClinical examinationParticipants hospitalized in pulmonary medicine units for the treatment of a pneumothorax will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice.
PneumothoraxLung ultrasoundParticipants hospitalized in pulmonary medicine units for the treatment of a pneumothorax will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice.
PneumothoraxChest radiographyParticipants hospitalized in pulmonary medicine units for the treatment of a pneumothorax will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice.
Bullous emphysemaPulmonary function testsParticipants with known bullous emphysema will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice during a regular follow-up consultation or scheduled hospitalization.
Bullous emphysemaClinical examinationParticipants with known bullous emphysema will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice during a regular follow-up consultation or scheduled hospitalization.
Bullous emphysemaLung ultrasoundParticipants with known bullous emphysema will undergo lung ultrasound according to standard of care clinical practice during a regular follow-up consultation or scheduled hospitalization.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Prevalence of various ultrasound signs in the bullous emphysema group, according to a predetermined sonographic evaluation form, following a standardized segmentation of the chest2 years

The following sonographic signs will be investigated :

* Pleural sliding (presence/absence)

* Z lines (presence/absence)

* A line visibility increase (presence/absence)

* B line (number per field)

* pulmonary pulse (presence/absence)

* lung-point (presence/absence)

* intercostoaeric line thickness (in mm)

For qualitative signs, the investigators will present proportions Quantitative signs will be reported using means, medians and standard-deviations

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Statistical comparison of ultrasound characteristics of bullous emphysema and pneumothorax2 years

* Calculation of sensitivity values of lung ultrasound for bullous emphysema for each sonographic sign. Study design prohibits calculation of specificity.

* A quantitative discrete score will be constructed by enumerating signs which are positive in favor of bullous emphysema, able to discriminate between both diseases. AUC will be calculated. An AUC \< 0.75 will be considered as insufficient for establishing lung ultrasound as a diagnostic test for bullous emphysema. An AUC \> 0.75 would prompt further studies.

Prevalence of various ultrasound signs in the pneumothorax group, according to a predetermined sonographic evaluation form, following a standardized segmentation of the chest2 years

The following sonographic signs will be investigated :

* Pleural sliding (presence/absence)

* Z lines (presence/absence)

* A line visibility increase (presence/absence)

* B line (number per field)

* pulmonary pulse (presence/absence)

* lung-point (presence/absence)

* intercostoaeric line thickness (in mm)

For qualitative signs, the investigators will present proportions Quantitative signs will be reported using means, medians and standard-deviations

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Pulmonary Medicine, Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Intensive Care Department, Rouen University Hospital

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Rouen, France

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