The Role of Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborn Infants

Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (rds) in newborn infants. methods: from march 2012 to may 2013, 100 newborn infants were divided into two groups: rds group (50 cases) and control group (50 cases). according to the findings of chest x-ray, there were 10 cases of grade ii rds, 15 grade iii cases, and 25 grade iv cases in rds group. lung ultrasound was performed at bedside by a single expert. the ultrasound indexes observed in this study included pleural line, a-line, b-line, lung consolidation, air bronchograms, bilateral white lung, interstitial syndrome, lung sliding, lung pulse etc. findings: in all of the infants with rds, lung ultrasound consistently showed generalized consolidation with air bronchograms, bilateral white lung or interstitial syndrome, pleural line abnormalities, a-line disappearance, pleural effusion, lung pulse, etc. the simultaneous demonstration of lung consolidation, pleural line abnormalities and bilateral white lung, or lung consolidation, pleural line abnormalities and a-line disappearance co-exists with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of neonatal rds. conclusion: this study indicates that using an ultrasound to diagnose neonatal rds is accurate and reliable tool. a lung ultrasound has many advantages over other techniques. ultrasound is non-ionizing, low-cost, easy to operate, and can be performed at bedside, making this technique ideal for use in nicu.