Diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury using intraperitoneal technetium

The diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury following blunt or penetrating trauma is often made after appreciable delay. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of intraperitoneal technetium in diagnosing diaphragmatic tears in dogs. Six dogs were divided into two groups. In Group 1, thoracotomy was performed bilaterally and 1 cm diaphragmatic tears were made. Peritoneal lavage with technetium-99 sulphur colloid was then performed after closure of the thoracotomy sites. In Group 2 animals, only lavage instillation of technetium was done. Scans were then performed and counts recorded over the chest and abdomen. A ratio of two body areas was then computed and compared between the two groups of animals. There was a statistically significant difference in the ratio between the two groups (P less than 0.05). We conclude that intraperitoneal technetium is a sensitive test for diagnosing diaphragmatic injuries.