Lung Ultrasound Patterns and Clinical-Laboratory Correlates during COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study from North East Italy (original) (raw)
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Lung Ultrasound Predicts Clinical Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
Journal of Perioperative Echocardiography, 2019
Background: Lung ultrasound is an easily available bedside imaging modality that has good specificity for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Limited evidence is available on its utility to predict clinical severity. Materials and methods: In this prospective observational study, adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital between June 2020 and August 2020 were included. Lung ultrasound was performed in at least four areas in each examination and video loops were scored by two independent observers. The statistical relationship was assessed between median lung ultrasound score, chest X-ray score, P/F ratio (ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood to the fraction of inspired oxygen), ROX index, SOFA score, ICU stay, and mortality. Results: Fifty lung ultrasound examinations were performed in 29 patients of age 54.7 ± 15.3 years. P/F ratio was <300 mm Hg during 80% of the examinations. There was moderate correlation between median lung ultrasound score and both ROX index (Spearman's rho = −0.543, p < 0.001) and P/F ratio (rho = −0.522, p < 0.001), while there was weak correlation between chest X-ray score and ROX index (rho = −0.0.345, p = 0.019) and no correlation between chest X-ray score and P/F ratio. There was correlation between chest X-ray score and ICU stay (rho = 0.434, p = 0.049). There was no difference in any of the parameters between survivors and non-survivors. Moderate inter-observer agreement was present between the two observers. Conclusion: Bedside lung ultrasound examination, even with a limited number of views, can reflect the clinical severity of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Respiratory Investigation
Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound (LUS) in determining the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia compared with thoracic computed tomography (CT) and establish the correlations between LUS score, inflammatory markers, and percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO 2). Methods: This prospective observational study, conducted at Târgu-Mureș Pulmonology Clinic included 78 patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection via nasopharyngeal real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (30 were excluded). Enrolled patients underwent CT, LUS, and blood tests on admission. Lung involvement was evaluated in 16 thoracic areas, using AB 1 B 2 C (letters represent LUS pattern) scores ranging 0e48. Results: LUS revealed bilateral B-lines (97.8%), pleural irregularities with thickening/ discontinuity (75%), and subpleural consolidations (70.8%). Uncommon sonographic patterns were alveolar consolidations with bronchogram (33%) and pleural effusion (2%). LUS score cutoff values of 14 and > 22 predicted mild COVID-19 (sensitivity [Se] ¼ 84.6%; area
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, 2020
PurposeTo evaluate ultrasound signs of coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pneumonia in symptomatic healthcare professionals and to correlate those changes with clinical findings.MethodsAll patients underwent real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), lung ultrasound (LUS) and clinical evaluation on the same day. In each of the 12 areas evaluated in the LUS, the LUS signs were scored to generate the aeration score.ResultsA total of 409 participants had positive PCR, with a median age of 41 (35‐51) years. All participants had clinical symptoms, with cough in 84.1%, fever in 69.7%, and dyspnea in 36.2% of cases. In the LUS, 72.6% of participants had B‐lines >2, 36.2% had coalescent B‐lines, and 8.06% had subpleural consolidations. The median aeration score was 3 (2‐7). The aeration score differed significantly regarding the presence of cough (P = .002), fever (P = .001), and dyspnea (P < .0001). The finding of subpleural consolidations in the LUS showed significant differences ...
Comparison of two different lung ultrasound imaging protocols in COVID-19 pneumonia
Ultrasonography, 2022
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two different lung ultrasonography (LUS) methods that can be used in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to investigate their correlations with computed tomography (CT).Methods: In this prospective, randomized, and single-blind study, 60 patients with COVID-19 were included. The patients were randomized to either the 12-zone LUS group (n=30) or the 14-zone LUS group (n=30). The correlation between LUS and thoracic CT scores was evaluated. As a secondary outcome measure, the characteristic features of the findings of thoracic CT and LUS were examined.Results: The study was completed with a total of 59 patients. Moderate and high correlations were found between the total CT and LUS scores in the 12-zone and 14-zone study groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the lesion types detected in patients using LUS and CT (P>0.05). The left lung lower lobe CT scores were statist...
Intensive Care Medicine, 2020
The relationship between lung ultrasound (LUS) and chest computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia is not clearly defined. The primary objective of our study was to assess the performance of LUS in determining severity of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia compared with chest CT scan. Secondary objectives were to test the association between LUS score and location of the patient, use of mechanical ventilation, and the pulse oximetry (SpO 2)/fractional inspired oxygen (FiO 2) ratio. Methods: A multicentre observational study was performed between 15 March and 20 April 2020. Patients in the Emergency Department (ED) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with acute dyspnoea who were PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2, and who had LUS and chest CT performed within a 24-h period, were included. Results: One hundred patients were included. LUS score was significantly associated with pneumonia severity assessed by chest CT and clinical features. The AUC of the ROC curve of the relationship of LUS versus chest CT for the assessment of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia was 0.78 (CI 95% 0.68-0.87; p < 0.0001). A high LUS score was associated with the use of mechanical ventilation, and with a SpO 2 /FiO 2 ratio below 357. Conclusion: In known SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients, the LUS score was predictive of pneumonia severity as assessed by a chest CT scan and clinical features. Within the limitations inherent to our study design, LUS can be used to assess SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia severity.
The Ultrasound Journal, 2021
Background During COVID-19 pandemic, optimization of the diagnostic resources is essential. Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is a rapid, easy-to-perform, low cost tool which allows bedside investigation of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We aimed to investigate the typical ultrasound patterns of COVID-19 pneumonia and their evolution at different stages of the disease. Methods We performed LUS in twenty-eight consecutive COVID-19 patients at both admission to and discharge from one of the Padua University Hospital Intensive Care Units (ICU). LUS was performed using a low frequency probe on six different areas per each hemithorax. A specific pattern for each area was assigned, depending on the prevalence of A-lines (A), non-coalescent B-lines (B1), coalescent B-lines (B2), consolidations (C). A LUS score (LUSS) was calculated after assigning to each area a defined pattern. Results Out of 28 patients, 18 survived, were stabilized and then referred to other units. The prevalence of C pattern wa...
Role of Lung Ultrasound in Predicting Clinical Severity and Fatality in COVID-19 Pneumonia
Journal of Personalized Medicine
Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a useful imaging method for identifying COVID-19 pneumonia. The aim of this study was to explore the role of LUS in predicting the severity of the disease and fatality in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a single-center, follow-up study, conducted from 1 November 2020, to 22 March 2021. The LUS protocol was based on the assessment of 14 lung zones with a total score up to 42, which was compared to the disease severity and fatality. Results: A total of 133 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by RT-PCR were enrolled, with a median time from hospital admission to lung ultrasound of one day. The LUS score was correlated with clinical severity at hospital admission (Spearman’s rho 0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.53, p < 0.001). Patients with higher LUS scores were experiencing greater disease severity; a high flow nasal cannula had an odds ratio of 1.43 (5% CI 1.17–1.74) in patients with LUS score > 29; the same score also predicted the n...