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Implementation of a standardized lung ultrasound protocol for respiratory distress in a neonatal intensive care unit: an observational study

Journal of Perinatology (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To assess the feasibility of implementing a simple point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) evaluation and reporting protocol in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and its effect on patient management.

Study design

Retrospective observational study of LU examinations performed in a level III NICU. Each examination was performed according to a standardized protocol. An independent radiologist-assessed chest X-ray (CXR) was used to compare the LU diagnosis. The impact on patient management was also evaluated.

Result

A total of 206 LU studies in 158 neonates were reviewed. There was significant agreement between LU and CXR diagnoses (84.95%, 95% CI 80.07–89.83%). LU affected patient management in 87.8% of the cases (95% CI 83.33–92.28%).

Conclusion

Implementation of a simplified, sign-based protocol for LU in the NICU is feasible. LU is not inferior to CXR studies and supports patient management as an imaging modality.

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Fig. 1: Overview of the study cohort.
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Data availability

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair and Department of Radiology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland

    Oliver Firszt, Agata Grabowska, Anna Saran & Ewa Kluczewska

Authors
  1. Oliver Firszt
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  2. Agata Grabowska
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  3. Anna Saran
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  4. Ewa Kluczewska
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Contributions

O.F. has designed the experiment, prepared the necessary paperwork for the Institutional Review Board and Bioethics Committee, worked on designing the examination protocol, performed the ultrasound studies, compiled the database, performed the statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. A.G. participated in the design of the study protocol, performed the ultrasound studies and helped write the manuscript. A.S. participated in the design of the study protocol, worked on compiling the database and proofreading the manuscript. E.K. supervised the study protocol design and its introduction, helped prepare the necessary paperwork for the Institutional Review Board and Bioethics Committee, helped with data interpretation and proofread the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oliver Firszt.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The need for an ethics committee approval was waived by the Bioethics Commission of the Medical University of Silesia, decision PCN/CBN/0052/KB/134/22. The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board.

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Firszt, O., Grabowska, A., Saran, A. et al. Implementation of a standardized lung ultrasound protocol for respiratory distress in a neonatal intensive care unit: an observational study. J Perinatol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01900-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01900-y

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