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

ABSTRACT

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.