Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention and control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We attempted to apply a protocol using teleultrasound, which is supported by the 5G network, to explore the feasibility of solving the problem of early imaging assessment of COVID-19. Four male patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were hospitalized in isolation wards in two different cities. Ultrasound specialists, located in two other different cities, carried out the robot-assisted teleultrasound and remote consultation in order to settle the problem of early cardiopulmonary evaluation. Lung ultrasound, brief echocardiography, and blood volume assessment were performed. Whenever difficulties of remote manipulation and diagnosis occurred, the alternative examination was repeated by a specialist from another city, and in sequence, remote consultation was conducted immediately to meet the consensus. The ultrasound specialists successfully completed the telerobotic ultrasound. Lung ultrasound indicated signs of pneumonia with varying degrees in all cases and mild pleural effusion in one case. No abnormalities of cardiac structure and function and blood volume were detected. Remote consultation on the issue of manipulation practice, and the diagnosis in one case was conducted. The cardiopulmonary information was delivered to the frontline clinicians immediately for further treatment. The practice of teleultrasound protocol makes early diagnosis and repeated assessment available in the isolation ward. Ultrasound specialists can be protected from infection, and personal protective equipment can be spared. Quality control can be ensured by remote consultations among doctors. This protocol is worth consideration as a feasible strategy for early imaging assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic.

中文翻译：

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基于5G网络的机器人辅助超声检查的先导研究：COVID-19大流行期间早期成像评估的新可行策略

早期诊断对于2019年冠状病毒疾病（COVID-19）的预防和控制至关重要。我们尝试应用由5G网络支持的远程超声协议，以探索解决COVID-19早期成像评估问题的可行性。在两个不同城市的隔离病房中，有四名确诊或疑似COVID-19的男性患者在隔离病房住院。位于另外两个不同城市的超声专家进行了机器人辅助的远程超声和远程咨询，以解决早期心肺评估的问题。进行了肺部超声检查，简短的超声心动图检查和血容量评估。每当发生远程操作和诊断的困难时，都会由另一个城市的专家重复进行替代检查，然后依次进行：立即进行了远程协商，以达成共识。超声专家成功完成了远程机器人超声。肺部超声显示所有情况下均有不同程度的肺炎征象，其中1例表现为轻度胸腔积液。未检测到心脏结构和功能以及血容量异常。进行了关于操作习惯问题的远程咨询，并在一例中进行了诊断。心肺信息立即传递给一线临床医生进行进一步治疗。远程超声协议的实践使隔离病房可以进行早期诊断和重复评估。可以保护超声专家免受感染，并可以保留个人防护设备。通过医生之间的远程协商可以确保质量控制。