Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a promising technique for the diagnosis of neonatal respiratory diseases. Preliminary data has shown a good sensitivity and specificity of LUS in the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Objective: The aim of this study was to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and negative (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of LUS for RDS and TTN, using an external reader blinded to the clinical condition. Design and Methods: Neonates with respiratory distress had a LUS within 1 h of admission. Images were uploaded and sent to the external reader, who made the ultrasound diagnosis according to the appearance of the images. The final clinical diagnosis was made according to all the available data, except LUS data. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were calculated considering the final clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: Fifty-nine neonates were studied (mean gestational age: 33 ± 4 weeks, mean birth weight: 2,145 ± 757 g). Twenty-three infants had a final diagnosis of RDS and 30 of TTN. LUS showed a sensitivity of 95.6% and specificity of 94.4%, with a PPV of 91.6% and a NPV of 97.1% for RDS, and a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 96.5% with a PPV of 96.5% and a NPV of 93.4% for TTN. Conclusions: LUS showed high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing RDS and TTN.

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In neonates with early respiratory distress, lung sonography has high interobserver agreement even between interpreters with varying levels of experience.

12-year-old boy presented with a sore throat and painful swallowing 2 days after receiving general anesthesia via laryngeal mask airway for the extraction of 2 molar teeth. The procedure had been uneventful, and he had been discharged after an overnight stay. At home he complained of worsening oropharyngeal pain and foreign body sensation. Physical examination revealed a swollen and hyperemic uvula that was partially covered by whitish exudate (Figure). Blood tests results were normal. Bacterial culture from a uvular swab was negative. The patient was treated with an oral analgesic and a prophylactic antibiotic, and he recovered fully within 5 days. Uvulitis is a rare condition in children, most commonly caused by bacterial or viral infections. 1 Hereditary angioedema, allergy, and inhalation of chemical irritants are less common causes. Traumatic uvulitis has been reported in adults after general anesthesia via endotracheal intubation 2 or laryngeal mask airway, 3 as well as after endoscopy. 4 The injury is likely due to compression of the uvula against the surrounding structures, leading to ischemia, inflammation, and necrosis. 2 It also may occur after aggressive oropharyngeal suctioning. 5 Sore throat is common after general anesthesia, but worsening oropharyngeal pain and foreign body sensation should raise the suspicion of uvular trauma. 6 The symptoms of traumatic uvulitis in adults are generally mild and resolve spontaneously. 3 Parenteral steroids and antibiotics are indicated in most severe cases. 2 Previous reports of traumatic uvulitis in children, different from adults, described a presentation with life-threatening uvular edema, occurring immediately after extubation, 7,8 We believe that mild traumatic uvulitis in children could be more common than reported. n