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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-2800v1 134/1/117    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Lichtenstein, D. A. Articles by Mezière, G. A. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lichtenstein, D. A. Articles by Mezière, G. A.

Relevance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute respiratory failure

¹: Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Ambroise-Paré, F-92 Boulogne (Paris-Ouest), France - dlicht@free.fr ²: Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier, F-92 Saint-Cloud (Paris-Ouest), France ; 3 : Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier, F-92 Orsay (Paris-Sud), France

dlicht{at}free.fr

Abstract

Background: This study assesses the potential of lung ultrasonography to diagnose patients presenting with acute respiratory failure.

Methods: This observational study was conducted in university-affiliated teaching hospital ICUs. We performed ultrasonography on consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with acute respiratory failure, comparing lung ultrasonography results on initial presentation with the final diagnosis by the ICU team. Uncertain diagnoses and rare causes (frequency <2%) were excluded. We included 260 dyspneic patients with a definite diagnosis. Three items were assessed: artifacts (horizontal A lines or vertical B lines indicating interstitial syndrome), lung sliding, alveolar consolidation, and/or pleural effusion. Combined with venous analysis, these items were grouped to assess ultrasound profiles.

Results: Predominant A lines plus lung sliding indicated asthma (n=34) or COPD (n=49) with 89% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Multiple anterior diffuse B lines with lung sliding indicated pulmonary edema (n=64) with 97% sensitivity and 95% specificity. A normal anterior profile plus deep venous thrombosis indicated pulmonary embolism (n=21) with 81% sensitivity and 99% specificity. Anterior absent lung sliding plus A lines plus lung point indicated pneumothorax (n=9) with 81% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Anterior alveolar consolidations, anterior diffuse B lines with abolished lung sliding, anterior asymmetric interstitial patterns, posterior consolidations or effusions without anterior diffuse B lines indicated pneumoniae (n=83) with 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity. The use of these profiles would have provided correct diagnoses in 90.5% of cases.

Conclusions: Lung ultrasound can help the clinician make a rapid diagnosis in patients with acute respiratory failure, thus meeting the priority objective of saving time.

Key Words: Chest ultrasonography • Pulmonary edema • Lung • ultrasound diagnosis • Respiratory failure • Intensive Care Unit • Pneumothorax • Interstitial syndrome • COPD