The Impact of Respiratory Therapist Performed Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound on the Respiratory Care in Neonates, Manitoba Experience, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the impact of the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) performed point-of-care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) on patient management in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of neonates who had RRT performed POC-LUS in two level III NICUs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The analysis aims mainly to describe the implementation process of the POC-LUS program. The primary outcome was the prediction of the change in clinical management. RESULTS: A total of 136 neonates underwent 171 POC-LUS studies during the study period. POC-LUS resulted in a change in clinical management following 113 POC-LUS studies (66%), while it supported continuing the same management in 58 studies (34%). The lung ultrasound severity score (LUSsc) was significantly higher in the group with worsening hypoxemic respiratory failure and on respiratory support than infants on respiratory support and stable or not on respiratory support, p < 0.0001. LUSsc was significantly higher in infants on either noninvasive or invasive than those not on respiratory support, p-value <0.0001. CONCLUSION: RRT performed POC-LUS service utilization in Manitoba improved and guided the clinical management of a significant proportion of patients who received the service.

Point of care lung ultrasound service in neonatal intensive care: Five years of experience in Manitoba, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of a point of care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) on patient management in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of neonates who had POC-LUS from 2016 to 2020 in two-level III NICUs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The primary outcome was the change in clinical management. The analysis aims mainly to describe the implementation process of the POC-LUS program. RESULTS: A total of 956 neonates underwent 4076 POC-LUS studies during the study period. The number of POC-LUS studies increased significantly every year, from 316 (in 2016) to 1257 (in 2020) (p < 0.001). POC-LUS resulted in a change in clinical management following 2528 POC-LUS studies (62%), while it supported continuing the same management in 1548 studies (38%). CONCLUSION: POC-LUS in Manitoba increased since its inception and led to an alteration in the clinical management in a significant proportion of patients who received the service.