The value of chest ultrasonography applications in the respiratory ICU

Abstract

Background Diverse imaging systems can be utilized for the evaluation of chest issues in ICU patients; ultrasound (US) is a decent analytic instrument without exposing the patients to radiation and risk of transfer. Objectives To compare the diagnostic performance of transthoracic US and bedside chest radiography (CXR) for the detection of various pathological abnormalities in fundamentally sick patients, using chest computed tomography as a gold standard. Patients and methods Two hundred and fifty-six patients who were admitted in the Respiratory Care Unit were included in this study. CXR, computed tomography, and transthoracic US were done to all the patients. Six pathological entities were evaluated: pleural effusion, pneumothorax, consolidation, interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary embolism, and neoplasms. Results All patients were evaluated by the three imaging techniques. The sensitivity and specificity of CXR were 42.1, 84.4% for pneumonia 50.0, 90.0% for pleural effusion, 45.5, 90.6% for interstitial syndrome, 50.0, 94.8% for pneumothorax, 60, 100% for pulmonary embolism, and 66, 94% for neoplasm, while the values for chest US were 89.47, 100% for pneumonia, 60, 100% for pulmonary embolism, 100, 100% for pleural effusion, pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, and neoplasm. Conclusion US examination of the chest is a noninvasive and promising bedside tool in the evaluation of patients in the Respiratory Care Unit.