Natalia Buda1, Jolanta Cylwik2, Katarzyna Mróz3, Renata Rudzińska4, Paweł Dubik5, Agnieszka Malczewska6, Aleksandra Oraczewska7, Szymon Skoczyński7, Anna Suska8, Tomasz Górecki9, Konrad Mendrala10, Jakub Piotrkowski11, Wojciech Gola12, Elena Segura-Grau13, Anna Zamojska14, Marcin Wełnicki15. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Connective Tissue Diseases and Geriatrics, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland. 2. Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Mazovia Regional Hospital in Siedlce, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland. 3. Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology, Kielce Hospital of St. Aleksandra LLC, 25-316 Kielce, Poland. 4. Clinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland. 5. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Healthcare Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Named after Sergeant Grzegorz Załoga in Katowice, 40-052 Katowice, Poland. 6. Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Polish Red Cross Maritime Hospital in Gdynia, 81-621 Gdynia, Poland. 7. Department of Pneumonology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland. 8. Emergency Department, The University Hospital in Cracow, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Cracow, Poland. 9. Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Cracow, Poland. 10. Department of Cardiac Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland. 11. Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Oncological Cardiology, Independent Public Health Care Facility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration with the Oncology Center in Olsztyn, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland. 12. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland. 13. Anesthesiology Department, Tondela-Viseu Hospital Center, EPE, 3504-509 Viseu, Portugal. 14. Department of Econometrics, University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland. 15. 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has, by necessity, contributed to rapid advancements in medicine. Owing to the necessity of following strict anti-epidemic sanitary measures when taking care of infected patients, the accessibility of standard diagnostic methods may be limited. Consequently, the significance and potential of bedside diagnostic modalities increase, including lung ultrasound (LUS). METHOD: Multicenter registry study involving adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, for whom LUS was performed. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients (61% males) qualified for the study. The average age was 60 years (±14), 40% were older than 65 years of age. In 130 from 173 hospitalized patients, HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) was performed. In 80% of patients, LUS findings indicated interstitial pneumonia. In hospitalized patients multifocally located single B-lines, symmetrical B-lines, and areas of white lung were significantly more frequent as compared to ambulatory patients. LUS findings, both those indicating interstitial syndrome and consolidations, were positively correlated with HRCT images. As compared to HRCT, the sensitivity and specificity of LUS in detecting interstitial pneumonia were 97% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to HRCT, LUS is characterized by a very high sensitivity and specificity in detecting interstitial pneumonia in COVID-19 patients. Potentially, LUS can be a particularly useful diagnostic modality for COVID-19 patients pneumonia.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has, by necessity, contributed to rapid advancements in medicine. Owing to the necessity of following strict anti-epidemic sanitary measures when taking care of infectedpatients, the accessibility of standard diagnostic methods may be limited. Consequently, the significance and potential of bedside diagnostic modalities increase, including lung ultrasound (LUS). METHOD: Multicenter registry study involving adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, for whom LUS was performed. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients (61% males) qualified for the study. The average age was 60 years (±14), 40% were older than 65 years of age. In 130 from 173 hospitalized patients, HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) was performed. In 80% of patients, LUS findings indicated interstitial pneumonia. In hospitalized patients multifocally located single B-lines, symmetrical B-lines, and areas of white lung were significantly more frequent as compared to ambulatory patients. LUS findings, both those indicating interstitial syndrome and consolidations, were positively correlated with HRCT images. As compared to HRCT, the sensitivity and specificity of LUS in detecting interstitial pneumonia were 97% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to HRCT, LUS is characterized by a very high sensitivity and specificity in detecting interstitial pneumonia in COVID-19patients. Potentially, LUS can be a particularly useful diagnostic modality for COVID-19patientspneumonia.