To explore the application value of ultrasound in diagnosing traumatic pneumothorax and determining the location of lung injury through in vitro and animal experiments.

Traumatic pneumothorax models were established both in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro experiments, a balloon leakage model (a traumatic pneumothorax models in vitro) under the background of liquid was examined by clinicians and ultrasonographists. The location of balloon leakage was identified, and the specific ultrasound images of continuous bubble spillover and examination time were recorded. In animal experiments, 12 Wuzhishan pigs were randomly divided into either an experimental group (artificial pleural effusion group) or a control group (no artificial pleural effusion group), with six pigs in each group. Traumatic pneumothorax was induced in all animals. Ultrasound images and examination time were recorded in both groups. Specific ultrasound images were read to determine the location of pulmonary rupture.

In in vitro experiments, the examination time in the clinician and ultrasonographist groups was (60±32) s and (45±18) s, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.16, P>0.05). In animal experiments, pulmonary sliding sign and A-line disappeared in all animals of the control group (6/6), with pulmonary point found in some cases (4/6). In the experimental group, besides the disappearance of lung sliding sign and A-line, the specific images of continuous bubble spillover and examination time could be recorded in the background of artificial pleural effusion, which can determine the location of pulmonary rupture. The time spent for diagnosis was significantly longer in the control group than in the experimental group [(300±53) s vs (180±35) s, t=4.63, P<0.05].

Both in vitro and animal experiments confirmed that ultrasound can diagnose traumatic pneumothorax and accurately determine the location of lung injury under the background of artificial pleural effusion. Accurate ultrasound diagnosis can lay a foundation for further interventional treatment of traumatic pneumothorax. The application of artificial pleural effusion provides a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic pneumothorax.