The Role of Lung Ultrasound Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review Article

Abstract

: Lung ultrasound [LUS] has evolved considerably over the last years. The aim of the current review is to conduct a systematic review reported from a number of studies to show the usefulness of [LUS] and point of care ultrasound for diagnosing COVID-19. A systematic search of electronic data was conducted including the national library of medicine, and the national institute of medicine, PubMed Central [PMC] to identify the articles depended on [LUS] to monitor COVID-19. This review highlights the ultrasound findings reported in articles before the pandemic [11], clinical articles before COVID-19 [14], review studies during the pandemic [27], clinical cases during the pandemic [5] and other varying aims articles. The reviewed studies revealed that ultrasound findings can be used to help in the detection and staging of the disease. The common patterns observed included irregular and thickened A-lines, multiple B-lines ranging from focal to diffuse interstitial consolidation, and pleural effusion. Sub-plural consolidation is found to be associated with the progression of the disease and its complications. Pneumothorax was not recorded for COVID-19 patients. Further improvement in the diagnostic performance of [LUS] for COVID-19 patients can be achieved by using elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and power Doppler imaging.

Lung Ultrasound Characteristics in Neonates With Positive Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for SARS-CoV-2 on a Tertiary Level Referral Hospital in Mexico City

“…Common patterns described include irregular and thickened pleural line and multiple B-lines ranging from interstitial (three or more well-spaced B-lines) to compact (white lung), demonstrating interstitial to alveolointerstitial edema. Consolidation is found to be associated with the progression of the disease and its complications (10). LUS has shown a good correlation with computed tomography (11), so it was considered a valid tool during the pandemic.…”

Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of lung ultrasound in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

“…Our study suggested that LUS can be a promising technique for identifying COVID-19 and determining its outcome in hospitalized patients; similarly, a recent re- view article stated that LUS can help to detect and stage pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia [29].…”

“…Our study suggested that LUS can be a promising technique for identifying COVID-19 and determining its outcome in hospitalized patients; similarly, a recent review article stated that LUS can help to detect and stage pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia [ 29 ]. In another study, authors proposed a clinicoradiological scoring system and claimed that it may help to not only give a quantitative measure of lung involvement, but also to identify the probability of SARS-COV-2 pneumonia [ 30 ].…”