Lack of lung hemorrhage in humans after intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography with ultrasound exposure conditions similar to those causing lung hemorrhage in laboratory animals.

This study investigated the phenomenon of ultrasonically induced lung hemorrhage in humans. Multiple experimental laboratories have shown that diagnostic ultrasound exposure can cause hemorrhage in the lungs of laboratory animals. The left lung of 50 patients (6 women, 44 men, mean age 61 years) was observed directly by the surgeon after routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed. From manufacturer specifications the maximum derated intensity in the sound field of the system used was 186 W/cm2, the maximum derated rarefactional acoustic pressure was 2.4 MPa, and the maximum mechanical index was 1.3. The lowest frequency used was 3.5 MHz. This exposure exceeds the threshold found for surface lung hemorrhage seen on gross observation of laboratory animals. No hemorrhage was noted on any lung surface by the surgeon on gross observation. We conclude that clinical transesophageal echocardiography, even at field levels a little greater than the reported thresholds for lung hemorrhage in laboratory animals, did not cause surface lung hemorrhage apparent on gross observation. These negative results support the conclusion that the human lung is not markedly more sensitive to ultrasound exposure than that of other mammals.