Lung Ultrasonography for Pneumothorax in Dogs and Cats

A sonographic diagnosis of pneumothorax (PTX) traditionally relies on excluding the presence of lung sliding, lung pulse, and/or B lines/lung consolidations, and identifying the lung point. However, these criteria can be difficult to identify, particularly in critically ill patients with respiratory disorders, and the lung point is infrequently used. Newer sonographic findings, such as mirrored ribs, reverse lung sliding, and abnormal curtain signs, have been identified to try to increase the accuracy of diagnosing PTX. This article describes and discusses the lung ultrasonography criteria used to diagnose PTX in both human and small animal patients.