Use of lung ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of the causes of dyspnea

Abstract

Background/Aim. The area of lung ultrasonography is fast developing and it provides the medical community with numerous new diagnostic opportunities. The aim of this study was to examine the etiology of dyspnea on admission and to assess the stage of heart failure (HF) according to the ultrasound examination of the heart and lungs on admission. Methods. The cross-sectional study included total of 110 patients treated with the symptoms of dyspnea. The study included all patients treated for any heart or pulmonary condition, as well as patients who reported the first episode of dyspnea without any previous illness. The most important diagnostic sign in the ultrasound of the lungs in HF is the appearance of B lines or comets, which indicate the accumulation of fluid in the interstitium of the lungs. Results. The mean number of registered comets was 14.2?7.4 (minimum 2, maximum 30). The mean number of comets among patients with HF was 18.8?5.9. The mean number of comets among patients without HF was 8.0?3.7, p<0.001. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed the association between the number of comets and HF group (p<0.001). Conclusion. As the assessment of pulmonary comets is safe and non-invasive it can easily be integrated in the daily clinical practice because it has been shown that the number of ultrasound pulmonary comets is significantly higher in patients with HF compared to those with dyspnea of other etiologies.