Role of lung ultrasound in diagnosing and differentiating transient tachypnea of the newborn and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of lung ultrasound in diagnosing and differentiating transient tachypnea of the newborn and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates. Material and methods: This was a single-center study. From January 2020 to June 2021. A total of 100 preterm neonates, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with symptoms of respiratory distress within six hours of birth, including 50 diagnosed with transient tachypnea of the newborn and 50 with respiratory distress syndrome on the basis of clinical examination, laboratory testing, chest X-rays, were recruited in the study. Lung ultrasound was performed in each neonate by a senior radiologist who was blinded to the clinical diagnosis. Lung ultrasound findings in both conditions were analyzed and compared. Results: Pulmonary edema manifesting as alveolar-interstitial syndrome, double lung point sign and less commonly as white out lungs in the absence of consolidation has 100% sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing transient tachypnea of the newborn. A combination of three signs of consolidation with air or fluid bronchograms, white out lungs and absent spared areas has 100% sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing respiratory distress syndrome. Double lung point sign was seen only in infants suffering from transient tachypnea of the newborn and consolidation with air or fluid bronchograms only in cases of respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusion: Lung ultrasound can accurately diagnose and reliably differentiate transient tachypnea of the newborn and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates. It has advantages that cannot be replicated by chest radiography. Lung ultrasound may be used as an initial screening tool.

Signs and lines in lung ultrasound.

Point-of-care ultrasound has become firmly established in acute and critical care settings, and is now increasingly being used as an important tool in the assessment of the lungs. In this article, we briefly describe the technique of lung ultrasound and the various lines and signs commonly encountered during sonography of the lung, namely the normally visualised A- and T-lines and the bat sign, sliding sign (power slide sign on colour Doppler), sea-shore sign, curtain sign, and the lung pulse. We have also described signs seen in various pathological conditions like B-lines seen in cases of increased lung density; the quad sign, sinusoid sign, thoracic spine sign, plankton sign and the jelly fish sign seen in pleural effusion; the stratosphere sign and the lung point sign seen in pneumothorax; the shred/fractal sign and tissue-like sign in consolidation, and the double lung point sign seen in transient tachypnoea of the newborn. With adequate and appropriate training, lung ultrasound can be effectively utilised as a point-of-care investigation.

Diagnosis of Traumatic Pneumothorax: A Comparison between Lung Ultrasound and Supine Chest Radiographs.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Traumatic pneumothorax is an ominous condition necessitating urgent appropriate action. It is typically detected on chest X-rays; however, these may not be able to detect the presence of a subtle pneumothorax, especially in supine position. Lung ultrasound is emerging as a promising modality for detecting pneumothorax in trauma patients. The aim of our study was to compare ultrasound with supine chest radiography for the detection of pneumothorax in trauma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, single-blinded study carried out on 212 adult thoracoabdominal trauma patients who underwent ultrasound FAST and supine (AP) chest radiography. During the FAST sonography, ultrasound thorax was done to rule out pneumothorax. Only those cases were considered (118) in which the presence or absence of pneumothorax could be confirmed on CT done subsequently or where pneumothorax was confirmed by air escape on chest tube placement, wherever indicated, and the results were compared with sonographic and chest X-ray findings. OBSERVATION/RESULTS: There were 48 true positives on CT/chest tube insertion. Among these, ultrasound was able to correctly detect pneumothorax in 43 patients, while supine chest X-rays correctly identified 33 cases. Sensitivity of ultrasound was 89.6 vs. 68.8% of supine chest radiography. Lung ultrasound also had a higher negative predictive value as compared to supine chest X-rays. CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound is more sensitive in detecting traumatic pneumothorax than supine chest X-rays, in addition to having numerous other inherent advantages over chest radiography. It should be incorporated in the emergency assessment of thoracic trauma patients to rule out pneumothorax. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Lung sonography is more sensitive in detecting traumatic pneumothorax than supine chest X-rays. No added equipment is required, and the procedure can be carried out at the time of doing ultrasound FAST, thus saving precious time in trauma patients. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bhoil R, Kumar R, Kaur J, Attri PK, Thakur R. Diagnosis of Traumatic Pneumothorax: A Comparison between Lung Ultrasound and Supine Chest Radiographs. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(2):176-180.

"Crown of Death"; Corona Mortis, a Common Vascular Variant in Pelvis: Identification at Routine 64-Slice CT-Angiography.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of arterial corona mortis variant in angiographic studies being performed using a 64 slice CT scan machine in a series of patients. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study including 100 consecutive patients undergoing routine clinically indicated, standard protocol, CT-angiography for the abdominal aorta and/or lower limbs using a 64 slice CT scanner. Patients having severe arterial insufficiency (Grade 4 stenosis on CT angiography), pelvic infections and tumours, patients with past pelvic trauma and those who had previous pelvic surgery were excluded from the study. In total 200 hemi-pelvises were evaluated for the presence or absence of corona morti. RESULTS: Overall, we included 100 patients in this series including 67 men and 33 women with mean age of 40.1±2.3 (ranging from 22-74) years. The arterial variant was identified on thin, 0.625-mm-thick images in 24 out of 100 patients studied (unilateral in 20 patients and bilateral in 4 patients; 28 out of 200 hemipelvises evaluated, having an incidence of 14%). We found that the distance of corona mortis artery from the symphysis was significantly greater for women compared to men, both on right (p=0.034) and left sides (p=0.046). CONCLUSION: Corona mortis may be prospectively identified at contrast-enhanced multidetector CT especially in pelvic trauma patients and help guide subsequent endovascular embolization or surgical interventions.

Bull horn injury causing traumatic tooth intrusion - ultrasound and CT imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic injury to upper alveolus may result in apical displacement of the affected tooth/teeth into the underlying alveolar bone. The tooth while being driven into the socket under the upwardly directed impact force usually causes a crushing fracture of the alveolar socket bone. The tooth may also be displaced through the labial plate of bone or may even impinge upon the bud of the permanent tooth. CASE REPORT: We present a case of tooth intrusion due to bull horn injury and its imaging features on ultrasound and CT scan. DISCUSSION: Most common teeth involved in dental trauma in children of 6 to 12 year age group, are the maxillary anteriors, and this age group also constitutes the most common group in whom tooth intrusion is seen. Tooth intrusion usually involves a single dental element. Common etiologic causes are injuries, falls, sports accidents, violence and traffic accidents. Traumatic intrusion due to injury by animals is rarely described and is more commonly seen in less developed areas that too in rural set-up where man-animal encounters are frequent. CONCLUSION: In such cases, whenever the conventional imaging modalities like the X-rays such as intra oral peri-apical views and orthopantomograms are unavailable, or where use of ionizing radiation is a grave concern (especially in children and pregnant patients), ultrasonography offers a non-invasive diagnostic imaging method which helps in diagnosis of the condition and also helps in supplementing the clinical information, thereby helping in better understanding of the underlying condition.

Study of ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and catheter drainage in the management of liver abscesses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of intermittent needle aspiration and continuous catheter drainage in ultrasound-guided management of liver abscesses. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomised study conducted on 100 patients (88 males and 12 females; age range 22-74 years) with liver abscess(es) and having abscess size more than 5 cm, divided into two groups: Percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) (n = 50) and percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) (n = 50). Criteria of exclusion were: rupture of abscess before intervention; prior intervention; uncorrectable coagulopathy; concomitant biliary tract malignancy. In the PNA group, pus was aspirated by an 18-gauge needle using freehand technique and the number of aspirations was limited to two. Failure of abscess size to decline below 50% of the original diameter or of clinical improvement after second aspiration was considered as failure of aspiration. In the PCD group, drainage was done by 12-French catheters using Seldinger technique. Drainage was considered as failure if abscess cavity did not resolve and laparotomy was needed to evacuate the pus cavity. RESULT: The success rate in the PNA group was 88% and 92% in the PCD group; however, this difference was statistically not significant, suggesting that both are equally efficacious. The total duration of hospital stay (mean 6.8 days [PNA] vs 10.5 days [PCD]; p value: 0.011) and the average duration between intervention and discharge (5.9 days [PNA] vs 10.2 days [PCD]; p value:0.026) were significantly less in the PNA group. One major complication was seen in our study: peritonitis due to peri-catheter leak in PCD group. CONCLUSION: Both procedures are equally efficacious in the management of liver abscesses; however in view of less duration of hospital stay, patient safety and comfort, procedure simplicity, and the reduced cost, needle aspiration should be used as the first-line procedure in the treatment of liver abscess (even in abscesses more than 5 cm). Catheter drainage should be reserved for cases that do not respond to a second attempt of aspiration.

Color Doppler ultrasound of spiral artery blood flow in mid first trimester (4-8 weeks) in cases of threatened abortion and in normal pregnancies.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the spiral artery flow in mid first trimester (4-8 weeks) in cases of threatened abortion and in normal pregnancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Spiral artery was sonographically evaluated in 50 patients comprising two groups of 25 women each. The first group included patients presenting with threatened miscarriage (vaginal bleeding/spotting with or without abdominal pain). The second group comprised of females who had no complications, but had no desire to continue the pregnancy. Spiral artery flow velocity measurements were performed using Color Doppler (Pulsatility Indices, Resistive Indices and Systolic/diastolic values) in mid first trimester (between 4-8 weeks of gestation), each measurement was performed twice. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical package for social sciences software. Values were rounded off to two digits after decimal point. RESULTS: Significant differences were noted in the spiral artery Doppler values in the two groups. In particular, the Resistive Indices was higher in cases of women with threatened miscarriage. The difference in Pulsatility Indices was also statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Doppler values of spiral artery may be used as a useful parameter in assessing the prognosis in cases presenting with threatened miscarriage.

Significance of Chilaiditi sign and Chilaiditi syndrome.

Chilaiditi sign and syndrome are uncommon conditions and often misdiagnosed. They are clinically significant, however, because they can result in a range of complications, including bowel volvulus, perforation and obstruction. When patients are symptomatic, treatment is usually conservative and surgery is rarely indicated unless there is a suspicion of ischaemia, or if conservative management does not resolve other signs and symptoms. This article describes Chilaiditi sign and syndrome, and presents four case studies to illustrate the relevant signs and symptoms.

Prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in stable patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Sub-Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lifestyle-related chronic inflammatory pulmonary disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are common observations in COPD and degree of the loss of bone mineral density (BMD) has been found to be proportionate to the severity of the disease. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to study the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in stable COPD patients in Indian Sub-Himalayan population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 84 patients of COPD attending as outpatient in the Pulmonary Medicine Department after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A control group of 60 healthy controls was selected for comparison with COPD group. Spirometry was done on patients to stage the severity of COPD according to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease criteria. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan of the lumbar spine was done using bone densitometer to determine the severity of reduced BMD. The patients were categorized according to the World Health Organization criterion for definition of reduced BMD. RESULTS: In the present study, a total of 45.2% patients had osteoporosis, 41.6% patients had osteopenia while the rest 13% patients had normal bone density in the COPD group. The prevalence of low bone density was about 4 times higher in COPD group as compared to control group. There were 15.48 times higher chances of low BMD in COPD patients as compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced BMD is a common comorbid entity in COPD patients which leads to increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. It is recommended that all the patients with COPD should be screened for osteoporosis to initiate the treatment for the disorder before they develop fractures.

Extrinsic compression of left main coronary artery due to dilated pulmonary trunk resulting in ischaemic symptoms.

Left coronary artery compression syndrome is an uncommon entity and characterized by compression of the LMCA in-between the aorta and an enlarged main pulmonary arterial trunk. It is usually associated with a congenital cardiac defect. Cardiac 64-slice MDCT provides a non-invasive and an accurate method for assessing the degree of dynamic LMCA compression throughout the cardiac cycle, its angulation relative to the left sinus of Valsalva and depiction of pulmonary pathology, making it a valuable tool in the workup of patients suspected of left coronary artery compression.

Contrast Intravasation During Hysterosalpingography.

Hysterosalpingography is an imaging method to evaluate the endometrial and uterine morphology and fallopian tube patency. Contrast intravasation implies backflow of injected contrast into the adjoining vessels mostly the veins and may be related to factors altering endometrial vascularity and permeability. Radiologists and gynaecologists should be well acquainted with the technique of hysterosalpingography, its interpretation, and intravasation of contrast agents for safer procedure and to minimize the associated complications.