Point-of-care lung ultrasound score for predicting escalated care in children with respiratory distress.

PURPOSE: Respiratory distress due to lower respiratory illnesses is a leading cause of death in children. Early recognition of high-risk populations is critical for the allocation of adequate resources. Our goal was to assess whether the lung ultrasound (US) score obtained at admission in children with respiratory distress predicts the need for escalated care. METHODS: This prospective study included 0-18-year-old patients with respiratory distress admitted to three emergency departments in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between July 2019 and September 2021. The enrolled patients underwent lung US performed by a pediatric emergency physician within two hours of arrival. Lung ultrasound scores ranging from 0 to 36 were computed. The primary outcome was the need for high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), or mechanical ventilation within 24 h. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were included. The diagnoses included wheezing (33%), bronchiolitis (27%), pneumonia (16%), asthma (9%), and miscellaneous (16%). Thirty-five patients (34%) required escalated care and had a higher lung ultrasound score: median 13 (0-34) vs 2 (0-21), p < 0.0001; area under the curve (AUC): 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.90). The best cut-off score derived from Youden's index was seven (sensitivity: 71.4%; specificity: 79.4%; odds ratio (OR): 9.6 [95% CI: 3.8-24.7]). A lung US score above 12 was highly specific and had a positive likelihood ratio of 8.74 (95% CI:3.21-23.86). CONCLUSION: An elevated lung US score measured in the first assessment of children with any type of respiratory distress was predictive of severity as defined by the need for escalated care with HFNC, NIV, or mechanical ventilation.

Point-of-care lung ultrasound is more reliable than chest X-ray for ruling out acute chest syndrome in sickle cell pediatric patients: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell patients, and it is often challenging to establish its diagnosis. PROCEDURE: This was a prospective observational study conducted in a pediatric emergency (PEM) department. We aimed to investigate the performance characteristics of point-of-care lung ultrasound (LUS) for diagnosing ACS in sickle cell children. LUS by trained PEM physicians was performed and interpreted as either positive or negative for consolidation. LUS results were compared to chest X-ray (CXR) and discharge diagnosis as reference standards. RESULTS: Four PEM physicians performed the LUS studies in 79 suspected ACS cases. The median age was 8 years (range 1-17 years). Fourteen cases (18%) received a diagnosis of ACS based on CXR and 21 (26.5%) had ACS discharge diagnosis. Comparing to CXR interpretation as the reference standard, LUS had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 77%-100%), specificity of 68% (95% CI: 56%-79%), positive predictive value of 40% (95% CI: 24%-56%), and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI: 92%-100%). Overall LUS accuracy was 73.42% (95% CI: 62%-83%). Using discharge diagnosis as the endpoint for both CXR and LUS, LUS had significantly higher sensitivity (100% vs. 62%, p = .0047) and lower specificity (76% vs.100%, p = .0002). LUS also had lower positive (60% vs.100%, p < .0001) and higher negative (100% vs.77%, p = .0025) predictive values. The overall accuracy was similar for both tests (82% vs. 88%, p = .2593). CONCLUSION: The high negative predictive value, with narrow CIs, makes LUS an excellent ruling-out tool for ACS.

Point-of-care lung ultrasound imaging in pediatric COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: There has been limited data regarding the usefulness of lung ultrasound (US) in children with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To describe lung US imaging findings and aeration score of 34 children with COVID-19. METHODS: This study included 0-16-year-old patients with confirmed COVID-19, who were admitted between April 19 and June 18, 2020 in two hospitals in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lung US was performed as part of the routine evaluation by a skilled Pediatric Emergency physician. Clinical and laboratory data were collected and severity classifications were done according to an available clinical definition. The lung US findings were described for each lung field and a validated ultrasound lung aeration score was calculated. Data obtained was correlated with clinical information and other imaging modalities available for each case. RESULTS: Thirty-four confirmed COVID-19 patients had a lung US performed during this period. Eighteen (18/34) had abnormalities on the lung US, but eight of them (8/18) had a normal chest radiograph. Ultrasound lung aeration score medians for severe/critical, moderate, and mild disease were 17.5 (2-30), 4 (range 0-14), 0 (range 0-15), respectively (p = 0.001). Twelve patients (12/34) also had a chest computed tomography (CT) performed; both the findings and topography of lung compromise on the CT were consistent with the information obtained by lung US. CONCLUSION: Point-of-care lung US may have a key role in assessing lung injury in children with COVID-19.