Evaluation of extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome by syndecan-1 combined with lung ultrasonography / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the value of plasma syndecan-1 (SDC-1) combined with lung ultrasonography in evaluating the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:From July 2018 to July 2019, 50 patients with ARDS admitted to the department of intensive care unit of Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were enrolled. After admission, pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) catheter was established for all patients. PiCCO indexes, including extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were monitored by one doctor. Another doctor performed lung ultrasound examination, and calculated the sum of the number of B-lines under 10 ultrasound sections of upper blue point, lower blue point, diaphragm point, Plaps point and rear blue point of both lungs. Then the level of plasma SDC-1 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between the number of ultrasonic B-lines, plasma SDC-1 level and EVLWI and PVPI. Taking 10 mL/kg EVLWI as the boundary value, the degree of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS was divided into mild pulmonary edema and severe pulmonary edema. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn, and the number of B-lines, SDC-1 and the predictive value of the combination of the above two indicators on the severity of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS were analyzed.Results:The cardiac index (CI) and central venous pressure (CVP) of 50 patients with ARDS were (46.84±6.00) mL·s -1·m -2 and (8.12±1.80) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), cardiogenic pulmonary edema was excluded. In 50 patients with ARDS, EVLWI was (10.82±2.92) mL/kg, PVPI was 3.02±0.69, the number of ultrasound B-lines was 40.90±13.05, and plasma SDC-1 was (568.25±118.14) μg/L. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the number of ultrasound B-lines in patients with ARDS was significantly positively correlated with EVLWI and PVPI ( r1 = 0.802, r2 = 0.799, both P < 0.01). Plasma SDC-1 was also positively correlated with EVLWI and PVPI ( r1 = 0.732, r2 = 0.576, both P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the number of B-lines and SDC-1 had good predictive value for the severity of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS. The area under ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.891 (0.803-0.979) and 0.875 (0.772-0.978), respectively. When the cut-off of B-lines was 40.50, the sensitivity and specificity were 82.1% and 86.4%, respectively. When the cut-off of SDC-1 was 559.37 μg/L, the sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 81.8%, respectively. Combining the number of B-lines with SDC-1 could further improve the predictive value of pulmonary water in patients with ARDS. The AUC (95% CI) was 0.958 (0.890-1.000), and the sensitivity and specificity were 92.9% and 91.8%, respectively. Conclusions:The level of plasma SDC-1 and the number of pulmonary ultrasonic B-lines have a good correlation with the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with ARDS. The combined application of the two noninvasive indexes can be used to evaluate the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with ARDS.

Implementación del ultrasonido pulmonar en la UCI durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Implementation of lung ultrasound in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic / Implementação do ultrassom pulmonar na UTI durante a pandemia de COVID-19

Resumen: El surgimiento del nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 está desafiando seriamente a la comunidad médica en prácticamente todo el mundo. La neumonía causada por COVID-19 tiene características peculiares y puede estudiarse mediante ultrasonografía pulmonar. La ecografía permite identificar el comportamiento de la infección y su progresión al lado de la cama del paciente. La técnica ha evolucionado considerablemente en los últimos años en lo que respecta a sus aspectos teóricos y operativos. En consecuencia, su aplicación clínica ha llegado a ser suficientemente conocida y generalizada en el contexto del paciente críticamente enfermo. Sugerimos la identificación de cuatro patrones en el ultrasonido pulmonar, los cuales permiten una mejor caracterización de la enfermedad. Debido a la sobredemanda de los servicios de salud en la actualidad, el conocimiento y aplicación de la ecografía pulmonar resulta de gran relevancia. Esta revisión incluye un enfoque práctico y proporciona un resumen de la evidencia para el uso e interpretación del ultrasonido pulmonar.

Abstract: The emergence of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is seriously challenging the medical community virtually the entire world. Pneumonia in COVID-19 has peculiar characteristics and can be studied by lung ultrasound. The ultrasound allows identifying the behavior of the infection and its progression at the bedside of the patient. The technique has evolved considerably in recent years in terms of its theoretical and operational aspects. Consequently, its clinical application has become sufficiently known and generalized in the context of the critically ill patient. We suggest the identification of 4 patterns on lung ultrasound which allow a better characterization of the disease. Due to the current demand for health services, the knowledge and application of lung ultrasound is highly relevant. This review includes a pragmatic approach and provides a summary of the evidence for the use and interpretation of lung ultrasound.

Resumo: O surgimento do novo coronavírus SARS-CoV-2 está desafiando seriamente a comunidade médica em praticamente todo o mundo. A pneumonia no COVID-19 tem características peculiares e pode ser estudada por ultrassom pulmonar. A ultrassonografia permite identificar o comportamento da infecção e sua progressão na beira do leito do paciente. A técnica evoluiu consideravelmente nos últimos anos em relação aos seus aspectos teóricos e operacionais. Consequentemente, sua aplicação clínica tornou-se suficientemente conhecida e generalizada no contexto do paciente crítico. Sugerimos a identificação de quatro padrões na ultrassonografia pulmonar, o que permite uma melhor caracterização da doença. Devido à demanda atual por serviços de saúde, o conhecimento e a aplicação da ultrassonografia pulmonar são altamente relevantes. Esta revisão inclui uma abordagem prática e fornece um resumo das evidências para o uso e a interpretação do ultrassom pulmonar.

Effect of surfactant on respiratory distress syndrome: evaluation by bedside pulmonary ultrasonography / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the relationship between the lung ultrasonography and the chest X-ray and to study the value of lung ultrasonography score (LUS) in evaluating the effect of pulmonary surfactant (PS) on respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of newborn.Method Preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our Hospital from January 2016 to December 2017 and diagnosed with RDS were prospectively studied.LUS examinations were performed prior to,and within the first 6～12 hours after surfactant administration,chest X-rays were also performed at the same time so as to evaluate the effects of surfactant replacement therapy and the correlation between the lung ultrasonography and the chest X-rays.Lung ultrasonography findings at a total of six sites,with three sites in each lung were scored based on the presence of normal finding,the amount of B-lines and subpleural consolidations.Result A total of 45 preterm infants with RDS were enrolled.The cases of X-ray grades Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ before PS administration were 5 cases,21 cases,12 cases and 7 cases respectively.The scores of LUS 0～6,7～12,13～ 18 were 5 cases,37 cases and 3 cases respectively,and the median of LUS was 10 points.Chest X-ray grades Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ within 6～12 hours after PS administration were 18 cases,17 cases,8 cases and 2 cases respectively.LUS of 0～6,7～12,13～18 were 21 cases,20 cases and 4 cases respectively.The median of LUS after PS was 7 points.LUS after PS application was significantly lower than that before PS application (P＜0.001).The LUS was positively correlated with the grades of X-ray before and after surfactant administration (before surfactant administration r =0.688,P＜0.001,after surfactant administration r =0.777,P＜0.001).Conclusion LUS is positively correlated with the grade of chest X-ray and might enable an early detection of the surfactant replacement therapy effects in RDS.Further studies are necessary to define the role of LUS in this field.

Pneumothorax in critically ill neonates: diagnosis using bedside ultrasonography / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the value of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in critically ill neonates.Method The neonates admitted to our NICU and suspected to have pneumothorax were prospectively enrolled from June 2017 to December 2018.All eligible infants received both LUS examination and chest X-ray.The characteristics of LUS imaging was analyzed based on the chest X-ray which was used as the golden standard for the diagnosis of pneumothorax.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of LUS is computed.The duration of LUS and chest X-ray were compared.The outcome and complications were also observed.Result Fifty neonates with suspected pneumothorax were collected.Among them,pneumothorax was confirmed with chest X-ray in 31 neonates (62.0％).Ultrasound signs of pneumothorax included absence of lung sliding (100％),absence of B lines (100％),stratosphere sign (100％) were observed in all of the 31 neonates.Presence of lung point was also observed in 90.3％ of the patients.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and X-ray coincidence rate of LUS in the diagnosis of pneumothorax were 100％.LUS and chest X-ray examination took (5.6 ±5.1) min and (20.1 ± 12.2) min,respectively,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).All 31 infants with pneumothorax survived.15 infants underwent closed thoracic drainage after emergency thoracic puncture or aspiration assisted by LUS.No postoperative complications occurred.Conclusion LUS showed high accuracy,sensitivity and specificity in detecting pneumothorax in critically ill neonates.It is simple to operate and can guide clinical rescue more promptly and quickly.

Usefulness of transthoracic lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of mild pneumothorax

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in the detection of mild pneumothorax using computed tomography (CT) in dogs. Nine adult healthy beagles were included in the study. A thoracic tube was inserted into pleural space at the left thoracic wall, and each dog underwent the examinations in the order of CT, lung ultrasonography, and radiography before the infusion of room air into the pleural space. Two, 3, and 5 mL/kg infusions of room air were sequentially introduced into the pleural space and CT, lung ultrasound, and radiography examinations were performed. Sonographic signs included A-lines, stratosphere, lung sliding, lung point, lung pulse, and reverse sliding signs. Radiographs were evaluated for the absence or presence of a pneumothorax. Lung ultrasound results were more accurate than radiography results for the detection of mild pneumothorax. The overall sensitivity of the sonographic reverse sliding sign was higher than that of other sonographic signs, and its specificity was 100% for detection of mild pneumothorax. Thus, the reverse sliding sign is useful when using lung ultrasonography for diagnosis of mild pneumothorax.

Role of Ultrasound Lung Comets in the Diagnosis of Acute Heart Failure in Emergency Department: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A new technique of transthoracic lung ultrasonography (TLS) has emerged and demonstrated promising results in acute heart failure diagnosis at an early stage. However, the diagnostic value of ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) for acute heart failure (AHF) performed in busy emergency department (ED) is uncertain. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of ULCs in AHF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a search on online journal databases to collect the data on TLS performed for diagnosing AHF published up to the end of July 2017. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve were calculated. The post-test probability of AHF was calculated by using Bayes analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We enrolled a total of 15 studies involving 3,309 patients. The value of sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, area under the SROC curve, and Q* index was 85%, 91%, 8.94, 0.14, 67.24, 0.9587, and 0.9026, respectively. We detected significant heterogeneity among included studies, and therefore, all these results were analyzed under the random-effect model. We also explored possible sources of heterogeneity among the studies by using meta-regression analysis. Results suggest that the time interval between patient's admission to bedside TLS examination was closely related to TLS accuracy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This meta-analysis demonstrated that detecting ULCs is a convenient bedside tool and has high accuracy for early AHF diagnosis in ED. TLS could be recommended to be applied for early diagnosis of AHF in ED.</p>

Radial-probe EBUS for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions / Ecobroncoscopia radial para o diagnóstico de lesões pulmonares periféricas

ABSTRACT Objective: Conventional bronchoscopy has a low diagnostic yield for peripheral pulmonary lesions. Radial-probe EBUS employs a rotating ultrasound transducer at the end of a probe that is passed through the working channel of the bronchoscope. Radial-probe EBUS facilitates the localization of peripheral pulmonary nodules, thus increasing the diagnostic yield. The objective of this study was to present our initial experience using radial-probe EBUS in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions at a tertiary hospital. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 54 patients who underwent radial-probe EBUS-guided bronchoscopy for the investigation of pulmonary nodules or masses between February of 2012 and September of 2013. Radial-probe EBUS was performed with a flexible 20-MHz probe, which was passed through the working channel of the bronchoscope and advanced through the bronchus to the target lesion. For localization of the lesion and for collection procedures (bronchial brushing, transbronchial needle aspiration, and transbronchial biopsy), we used fluoroscopy. Results: Radial-probe EBUS identified 39 nodules (mean diameter, 1.9 ± 0.7 cm) and 19 masses (mean diameter, 4.1 ± 0.9 cm). The overall sensitivity of the method was 66.7% (79.5% and 25.0%, respectively, for lesions that were visible and not visible by radial-probe EBUS). Among the lesions that were visible by radial-probe EBUS, the sensitivity was 91.7% for masses and 74.1% for nodules. The complications were pneumothorax (in 3.7%) and bronchial bleeding, which was controlled bronchoscopically (in 9.3%). Conclusions: Radial-probe EBUS shows a good safety profile, a low complication rate, and high sensitivity for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions.

RESUMO Objetivo: A broncoscopia convencional possui baixo rendimento diagnóstico para lesões pulmonares periféricas. A ecobroncoscopia radial (EBUS radial) emprega um transdutor ultrassonográfico rotatório na extremidade de uma sonda que é inserida no canal de trabalho do broncoscópio. O EBUS radial facilita a localização de nódulos pulmonares periféricos, aumentando assim o rendimento diagnóstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar nossa experiência inicial com o uso de EBUS radial para o diagnóstico de lesões pulmonares periféricas em um hospital terciário. Métodos: Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de 54 pacientes submetidos à broncoscopia guiada por EBUS radial para a investigação de nódulos ou massas pulmonares entre fevereiro de 2012 e setembro de 2013. O EBUS radial foi realizado com uma sonda flexível de 20 MHz, que foi inserida no canal de trabalho do broncoscópio até chegar à lesão-alvo. A fluoroscopia foi usada para localizar a lesão e realizar procedimentos de coleta (escovado brônquico, aspiração transbrônquica com agulha e biópsia transbrônquica). Resultados: O EBUS radial identificou 39 nódulos (média de diâmetro: 1,9 ± 0,7 cm) e 19 massas (média de diâmetro: 4,1 ± 0,9 cm). A sensibilidade global do EBUS radial foi de 66,7% (79,5% para as lesões visíveis pelo método e 25% para as lesões não visíveis pelo método). Nas lesões visíveis pelo método, a sensibilidade foi de 91,7% para massas e de 74,1% para nódulos. As complicações foram pneumotórax (3,7%) e sangramento brônquico controlado broncoscopicamente (9,3%). Conclusões: O EBUS radial apresenta bom perfil de segurança, baixo índice de complicações e alta sensibilidade para o diagnóstico de lesões pulmonares periféricas.

Lung ultrasonography for the diagnosis of meconium aspiration syndrome of the newborn infants / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of lung ultrasonography for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).Methods From August 2014 to October 2015,a total of 67 cases of MAS patients were included in this study based on the medical history,typical clinical symptoms and chest X ray findings.The control group comprised 100 neonates without pulmonary disease.In a resting state,each patient was placed in a supine,lateral recumbent,or prone position.Using the anterior and posterior axillary lines as boundaries,each side of the lung was divided into 3 regions:anterior,lateral and posterior.The probe was held perpendicular or parallel to the ribs,and each region of both sides of the lung was scanned.Results In this study,the main lung ultrasonographic findings in MAS patients were as follows:(1) Lung consolidation with air bronchograms,which was found in all patients.Generally,the large area of lung consolidation with irregular margins was seen in severe MAS patients while the small area of lung consolidation was seen in mild patients.(2) Pleural line anomalies and the disappearance of the A-lines,which were found in all patients.(3) Atelectasis,which was found in 12 severe cases(17.9％),with severe massive atelectasis and visible lung pulse.(4) Pleural effusion,which was found in 9 cases (13.4％) including mild or severe patients.(5) Alveolar-interstitial syndrome (AIS) or B-line in the non-consolidation area was found in all patients.Conclusions There were specific imaging findings in lung ultrasound in MAS patients.Lung ultrasonography can be used for the routine diagnosis of MAS because of its accuracy,reliability,low-cost and simplicity,no risk of radiation damage as well as it is convenience to observe and understand the dynamic changes of the patients' condition timely.

Diagnostic value of point-of-care lung ultrasonography / 中国小儿急救医学

Lung ultrasound(LUS)has gained increasing popularity among intensivists in recent dec-ades.Although limited by the presence of air,LUS has proved to be useful in the evaluation of a number of different acute and chronic conditions,such as pneumonia,pneumothorax,acute lung injury,alveolar-intersti-tial syndrome,pleural effusion,etc,and showed a relatively higher sensitivity,specificity and diagnostic accu-racy compared to routine radiographic imaging.It is also critical in improving the safety of pleural interven-tional procedures.The most common signs for diagnosing and differential diagnosing include the pleural line, lung sliding,the A-line,the quad sign,the sinusoid sign,the fractal,and tissue-like sign,the B-line,lung rock-ets,abolished lung sliding with the barcode sign,the lung point,the dynamic air bronchogram,etc.The BLUE-protocol allows differential diagnosis of acute respiratory failure.LUS is a feasible technique that can be used routinely and integrated into clinical practice in the fields of intensive care,emergency care,respirato-ry and general medicine.

Diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome using lung ultrasonography / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

As an emerging technology,the lung ultrasound has been increasingly used in neonatal practice.Lung ultrasound has many advantages,such as non-ionizing,widly available,there is no hazards to the operators and the patients.It can be performed at the bedside,easy-operating,protecting the operators and patients from radiation,being performed at the bedside,especially being suitable for dynamic observation in seriously ill infants.Most importantly,the lung ultrasound has a very high accuracy and reliability in diagnosing pulmonary disease.In order to improve the clinical application of the lung ultrasound to diagnose neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,the major ultrasound imaging characteristics of respiratory distress syndrome and the key operating elements of ultrasonic examination were described.