Role of Lung Ultrasound in Assessment of Neonatal Respiratory Distress

Lung disease is the most common cause of neonatal respiratory distress.

It can result in respiratory failure and death in severe cases.

The mortality rate is approximately 11%:32%.

Identification of the etiology of lung disease is important for neonatologists.

Traditionally, chest X-ray has been considered as the most valuable imaging modality for the diagnosis of lung diseases, but it unavoidably causes radiation damage to the patient.

Neonates are susceptible to radiation because they have rapidly dividing cells that cannot repair mutated DNA.

The risk of cancer induction in infants receiving a single small dose of radiation is 2-3 times higher than the average population and 6-9 times higher than the risk from an exposure of a 60-year-old patient.

New imaging modalities have been introduced in clinical practice in recent years such as lung ultrasound.

One of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory distress that can be diagnosed by ultrasound is :Respiratory Distress Syndrome:

Respiratory distress syndrome.. is a major cause of neonatal mortality.

It mainly occur in preterm infants due to structural and functional lung immaturity.

Pulmonary surfactant insufficiency is an important pathogenesis in respiratory distress syndrome.

The ultrasonic features of respiratory distress syndrome are: Compact B-Lines, white lung appearance, abnormality in pleural line (thick and irregular),lung consolidation.

Lung ultrasound has the advantages of :

Non-ionizing.

Easy to operate.

Low coast.

Portable for bedside use.

The imaging is performed in real-time.

Thus making it as a potential tool to be used in neonatal intensive care units.