The specific signs of lung ultrasound to diagnose pulmonary hemorrhage of the newborns: Evidence from a multicenter retrospective case-control study

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine: A Clinical Review

Thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (T-POCUS) has grown in popularity and usage in small animal emergencies and critical care settings due to its non-invasive nature, mobility, and ability to acquire images in real time. This review summarizes current understanding about T-POCUS in dogs and cats with respiratory illnesses, including normal thoracic ultrasonography appearance and numerous pathological situations. The basics of T-POCUS are covered, including equipment, scanning procedures, and picture settings. Practical applications in patients with respiratory distress are discussed, with an emphasis on pleural space abnormalities and lung diseases. Ultrasound results define pulmonary disorders such as pneumonia, atelectasis, cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, lung lobe torsion, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, pulmonary neoplasms, and pulmonary bleeding. The evaluation focuses on T-POCUS diagnostic skills in a variety of clinical settings. Limitations and the need for more study to standardize techniques, establish agreed terminology, and create specialized educational routes are highlighted.

The value of lung ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of common lung diseases in newborns

To investigate the value of lung ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of common neonatal lung diseases. A total of 160 newborns with suspected lung diseases admitted to the Department of Neonatology of Linping Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2020 to June 2023, were selected for examination. Perform lung ultrasound within 24 hours of admission for above newborns, using the final clinical diagnosis as standard. Calculate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of lung ultrasound technology in the diagnosing neonatal lung diseases, and assess its value in the differential diagnosis of common neonatal lung diseases. A total of 160 newborns suspected of having lung disease were finally diagnosed with lung disease in 142 cases. The accuracy of lung ultrasound in differentiating neonatal pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn, meconium aspiration syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, pneumothorax, atelectasis, and pulmonary hemorrhage was 96.8%, 98.1%, 98.8%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The detection rate of lung ultrasound examination for lung disease in newborns was 85.00%, with a sensitivity of 95.77%, specificity of 77.77%, positive predictive value of 97.14% and negative predictive value of 70.0%. The consistency test kappa value between lung ultrasound findings and the final clinical diagnosis of neonatal lung diseases is 0.846. Lung ultrasound holds significant value in the differential diagnosis of common lung diseases in newborns.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Lung Ultrasound in Neonatal Diseases: A Systematized Review

Background: Respiratory problems are frequent in newborns, and are mainly studied with chest X-rays, whereas CT scans are usually needed for the evaluation of rare malformations and diseases. Lung ultrasound (LUS] has been proposed as an alternative method of diagnosing a variety of respiratory conditions. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in LUS studies, thanks to the ability of LUS to rapidly exclude complications and significantly reduce radiation exposure in this fragile population. We aimed to summarize the current knowledge about LUS. Methods: A literature search was conducted on the Medline and Cochrane databases using appropriate terms. The inclusion criteria were: English language and human species. Exclusion criteria were: non-English language, animal species, case reports, case series, non-systematic reviews, and editorials. Results: The search returned 360 results. No Cochrane reviews were found. Titles and abstracts were screened, and 37 were finally considered. Studies concerning the use of lung ultrasound for the following conditions were presented: neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, pneumothorax, pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and prediction of extubation success. Conclusions: We discussed the utility of LUS for the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal diseases according to the most recent literature.

The Rat Thoracic Ultrasound protocol: scanning technique and normal findings

Respiratory diseases (especially pneumonia) are very common disorders in pet rats. The suspected diagnosis is mostly based on the clinical signs, thoracic auscultation, and thoracic radiography. However, auscultation is insensitive in determining the severity of the disease, and radiographs are often unremarkable. Non-cardiac thoracic ultrasonography is increasingly used in veterinary medicine; however, it has not been described in detail in rats. Thoracic ultrasonic examination was conducted on 400 client-owned conscious pet rats. The rats were examined in the period from June 2023 to August 2023 in two veterinary clinics. Due to the small size of the animal, different anatomical considerations, and different evaluation protocols, as well as to meet the optimal outcome of detailed thoracic ultrasound, a standard methodological protocol was developed, and the name RATTUS (Rat Thoracic Ultrasound) was proposed. Typical signs of normal RATTUS were described (bat sign, lung sliding, A-lines, abdominal curtain sign, ski jump sign, lung pulse, seashore sign in M-mode, and bamboo sign). The new evaluation of lung inflation symmetry by substernal access was also described. The methodical approach presented and the normal findings description are proposed to be used for a standard/routine thoracic ultrasound examination in pet rats.