Urgencias torácicas en el niño: rol de las imágenes

Abstract

Thoracic trauma and medical conditions with risk of severe respiratory impairment may be an emergency in pediatric age. The management of these children often involves quick decisions that require the most accurate diagnosis as it is possible; the images are an important tool in the diagnosis and management of these children. Chest X-ray is usually the first examination in most patients. Computed tomography fastly evidences pathological compromise with great precision, but is usually reservedfor complex cases due to the radiation dose involved. This review highlights the role of images on: chest trauma, foreign body airway, spontaneous pneumothorax, pulmonary tromboembolism and acute asthma.