Lowering of the Neonatal Lung Ultrasonography Score after nCPAP Positioning in Neonates over 32 Weeks of Gestational Age with Neonatal Respiratory Distress
Alessandro Perri,
Simona Fattore,
Vito D’Andrea,
Annamaria Sbordone,
Maria Letizia Patti,
Stefano Nobile,
Chiara Tirone,
Lucia Giordano,
Milena Tana,
Francesca Priolo,
Francesca Serrao,
Riccardo Riccardi,
Giorgia Prontera,
Giovanni Vento
Affiliations
Alessandro Perri
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Simona Fattore
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Vito D’Andrea
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Annamaria Sbordone
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Maria Letizia Patti
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Stefano Nobile
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Chiara Tirone
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Lucia Giordano
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Milena Tana
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Francesca Priolo
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Francesca Serrao
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Riccardo Riccardi
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli” Hospital, Isola Tiberina, 00186 Rome, Italy
Giorgia Prontera
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Giovanni Vento
Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Respiratory distress (RD) is one of the most common causes of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Correct diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial. Lung ultrasonography (LU) is a useful diagnostic tool for the neonatologist in the diagnosis of RD; the neonatal lung ultrasonography score (nLUS) can be used in the diagnostic process, but some authors hypothesise that it is also useful for the management of some neonatal RD. The aim of this study is to analyse the changes in nLUS score before (T0) and after (T1) the start of respiratory support with nasal CPAP in neonates over 32 weeks of age with RD. Thirty-three newborns were enrolled in this retrospective study. LU was performed before and after the start of CPAP. The median nLUS scores at T0 and T1 were 9 (IQR 7–12) and 7 (IQR 4–10), respectively, and showed a significant difference (p < 0.001). The magnitude of reduction in nLUS score, expressed as a percentage, was inversely related to the need for subsequent administration of exogenous surfactant. The study suggests the usefulness of the nLUS score in assessing the response to CPAP in neonates over 32 weeks gestational age.
