RESUMEN
Background: lung ultrasound is a part of the diagnostic armamentarium in Resuscitation and Recovery Units with an enormous potential due to its advantages capacity to diagnose more precisely than conventional radiology, earlier diagnosis, convenience due to being able to perform at the bedside, possibility of being performed by one person, absence of ionizing radiation and due to its dynamic character
Aim of the Work: this study aimed to assess the impact of chest ultrasonography in detecting, differentiation and management of the different pleural diseases
Patients and Methods: this prospective study included 50 patients who were presented with suspected clinical and/or radiological evidence of pleural disease in the Chest Department of Demerdash Hospital, during the period between November 2014 and June 2017. Patients with pleural diseases with lung involvement were excluded
Results: US were more statistically significantly sensitive and specific in the detection of pleural effusion compared to chest radiography. A sensitivity of 0.92 for US examination against 0.74 for chest radiography in detection of pleural thickening was noted. There were no statistically significant differences between the sensitivity and specificity of chest US and chest CT in detection of different pleural pathologies
Conclusion: US are an efficient and suitable method for the evaluation of different pleural diseases in critically ill patients in the RICU. US are mostly sensitive and specific in diagnosing pleural effusions. US-guided diagnostic and therapeutic pleural interventions are successful in achieving their goal with favorable outcomes and minimal complications
Recommendations: US accessibility was difficult for some patients because of tissue edema, subcutaneous emphysema and obesity. Thus further studies are needed in order to generalize these results