Francesco Raimondi1, Fiorella Migliaro2, Iuri Corsini3, Fabio Meneghin4, Pasquale Dolce5, Luca Pierri2, Alessandro Perri6, Salvatore Aversa7, Stefano Nobile6, Silvia Lama8, Silvia Varano9, Marilena Savoia10, Sara Gatto4, Valentina Leonardi3, Letizia Capasso2, Virgilio Paolo Carnielli9, Fabio Mosca8, Carlo Dani3, Giovanni Vento6, Gianluca Lista4. 1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences and raimondi@unina.it. 2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences and. 3. Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy. 4. NICU, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy. 5. Department of Public Health, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy. 6. Unità Operativa Complessa di Neonatologia, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. 7. Division of Neonatology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 8. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 9. Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy; and. 10. Division of Neonatology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The utility of a lung ultrasound score (LUS) has been described in the early phases of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We investigated lung ultrasound as a tool to monitor respiratory status in preterm neonates throughout the course of RDS. METHODS: Preterm neonates, stratified in 3 gestational age cohorts (25-27, 28-30, and 31-33 weeks), underwent lung ultrasound at weekly intervals from birth. Clinical data, respiratory support variables, and major complications (sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, pneumothorax, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate) were also recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 240 infants in total. The 3 gestational age intervals had significantly different LUS patterns. There was a significant correlation between LUS and the ratio of oxygen saturation to inspired oxygen throughout the admission, increasing with gestational age (b = -0.002 [P < .001] at 25-27 weeks; b = -0.006 [P < .001] at 28-30 weeks; b = -0.012 [P < .001] at 31-33 weeks). Infants with complications had a higher LUS already at birth (12 interquartile range 13-8 vs 8 interquartile range 12-4 control group; P = .001). In infants 25 to 30 weeks' gestation, the LUS at 7 days of life predicted bronchopulmonary dysplasia with an area under the curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.71 to 93). CONCLUSIONS: In preterm neonates affected by RDS, the LUS trajectory is gestational age dependent, significantly correlates with the oxygenation status, and predicts bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In this population, LUS is a useful, bedside, noninvasive tool to monitor the respiratory status.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The utility of a lung ultrasound score (LUS) has been described in the early phases of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We investigated lung ultrasound as a tool to monitor respiratory status in preterm neonates throughout the course of RDS. METHODS: Preterm neonates, stratified in 3 gestational age cohorts (25-27, 28-30, and 31-33 weeks), underwent lung ultrasound at weekly intervals from birth. Clinical data, respiratory support variables, and major complications (sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, pneumothorax, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate) were also recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 240 infants in total. The 3 gestational age intervals had significantly different LUS patterns. There was a significant correlation between LUS and the ratio of oxygen saturation to inspired oxygen throughout the admission, increasing with gestational age (b = -0.002 [P < .001] at 25-27 weeks; b = -0.006 [P < .001] at 28-30 weeks; b = -0.012 [P < .001] at 31-33 weeks). Infants with complications had a higher LUS already at birth (12 interquartile range 13-8 vs 8 interquartile range 12-4 control group; P = .001). In infants 25 to 30 weeks' gestation, the LUS at 7 days of life predicted bronchopulmonary dysplasia with an area under the curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.71 to 93). CONCLUSIONS: In preterm neonates affected by RDS, the LUS trajectory is gestational age dependent, significantly correlates with the oxygenation status, and predicts bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In this population, LUS is a useful, bedside, noninvasive tool to monitor the respiratory status.