[The diagnosis of air leaks of pneumothorax with radionuclide inhalation. An experimental study].

The diagnosis of leaks in pneumothorax was studied with radionuclide inhalation lung scan in animals. The animal pneumothorax models were made either by puncture or by operative method on nine dogs. The pneumothorax was proved by chest X-ray. The dogs were intubated and ventilated. Aerosol of 99mTc was delivered into the lung through tracheal cannula. 5-10 mGi: of 99mTc-phytafe with 150 ml of normal saline was used ultrasonics. The droplet size was estimated at 0.5-10 microns in diameter. The lung scan were obtained with GCA90B-gamma camera in dynamic or static way for about 0.5 hr. The air leaks (total 13) in tension pneumothorax were demonstrated by lung scan and were in accord with the fissures in the lung samples.