A new development in emergency department ultrasonography: Pleural Sliding Sound (PSS)

Abstract

Ultrasonography (USG) is widely used in emergency departments to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. An increasing number of studies in the unconventional use of USG in thorax and lung examination have been conducted in recent years. Sliding lung sound (SLS) has been researched extensively during the last decade was accepted as a radiologic sign in 2008. However, determining SLS requires a certain degree of clinical experience since it is a subjective indicator. We have discovered the “pleural sliding sign (PSS)”, which is as valuable as the SLS, but more objective sign. PSS is present at any time when SLS is present; furthermore, it can be used as a diagnostic sign even when the SLS is doubtful. In this study, we present our views on PSS and in particular wish to share this information with clinicians who are interested in performing emergency USG. We also aim to stimulate further research on this subject.