Lung ultrasound: Part two (Lung ultrasound Part 2)

Abstract

Clinical use of lung ultrasound (LUS) in emergency and critical care is studied extensively. LUS is a non-invasive, real-time method, easily available at bedside, economical, free of radiation hazard and free of complications. All these features make LUS useful in reducing need for bedside chest radiography and computed tomography. The First International Conference on Lung Ultrasound (ICC-LUS) recommended approach to six major areas of LUS. The BLUE protocol (Bedside Lung Ultrasound and Emergency Protocol) is the first LUS-based systematic approach in diagnosing pleural and lung pathology. This protocol helps to differentiate features of acute dyspnea (pulmonary edema, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion or pneumothorax). LUS for pneumothorax diagnosis has become the standard part of the Extended Focused Assessment by Sonography for Trauma (E-FAST). Interpretation of lung ultrasound findings is based on the identification of the main pathological substrates of pulmonary parenchyma: interstitial syndrome, interstitial-alveolar syndrome, alveolar syndrome / consolidation, pleural effusion and pneumothorax.

Keywords

• lung ultrasound
• BLUE protocol
• E-FAST
• pathological substrate