Lung ultrasound in newborn

OBJECTIVE:  There is growing evidence for the usefulness of the lung ultrasound score (LUS) in neonatal intensive care. We evaluated whether the LUS is predictive of outcomes in infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). STUDY DESIGN:  Neonates less than 34 weeks of gestational age were eligible for this prospective, multicenter cohort study. The outcomes of interest were the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) at <72 hours of life, the need for surfactant (SF), successful weaning from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), extubation readiness, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia...

INTRODUCTION: Prenatally diagnosed congenital lung malformations (CLMs) are monitored via ultrasound and measured by congenital pulmonary airway malformation volume ratios (CVRs) which can predict postnatal respiratory symptoms. This study compared CVR to postnatal lesion size to help guide prenatal counseling. METHODS: A retrospective chart review evaluated the prenatal imaging and postnatal outcomes for patients who were prenatally diagnosed with CLMs and had a postnatal computed tomography (CT) scan at one institution...

INTRODUCTION: The achievement of alimentary competencies is a milestone in the development of preterm neonates. Ten percent of neonates <37 weeks of gestational age and 25% of those VLBW experience swallowing disorders, with an increased risk of problems in the early phase of life (failure to thrive, growth retardation, inhalation, and consequent risk of pulmonary infection) and later in life due to delayed development of oromotor skills.The main diagnostic tools for swallowing disorders are endoscopic (fiber-optic endoscopic examination of swallowing, FEES) or radiographic (videofluoroscopic swallowing study, VFSS) exams...

Background: SOX2 disorders are associated with anophthalmia-esophageal-genital syndrome or microphthalmia, syndromic 3 (MCOPS3- # 206900). Case Report: We describe a third fetal case with a de novo 3q26.32q26.33 deletion extending for 4.31 Mb, detected in a 15-week fetus. After legal interruption of pregnancy, at autopsy, the fetus presented bilateral microphthalmia, right cleft lip and palate, bilateral cerebral ventriculomegaly and dilated third ventricle, microcystic left lung, and intestinal malrotation...

BACKGROUND: Although lung and diaphragm ultrasound are valuable tools for predicting weaning results in adults with MV, their relevance in children is debatable. The goal of this meta-analysis was to determine the predictive value of lung and diaphragm ultrasound in newborn weaning outcomes. METHODS: For eligible studies, the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were thoroughly searched. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) method was used to evaluate the study's quality...

BACKGROUND: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is a challenging phase of neonatal respiratory support [1]. Choosing efficient and safe noninvasive modality to prevent re-intubation and choosing the optimal time for weaning are key points for weaning success. The aim of the study is to compare the efficiency and safety of noninvasive high frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) versus noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) as respiratory support after extubation in preterms with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)...

BACKGROUND: Atelectasis is a common complication in neonatal anesthesia. Lung ultrasound (LUS) can be used intraoperatively to evaluate and recognize atelectatic lung areas. Hypotheses for the study are: (1) The use of LUS to guide choice of best positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can lead to reduction of FiO2 to achieve same saturations of oxygen (SpO2 ). (2) In a less de-recruited lung, there will be less postoperative pulmonary complications. (3) Static respiratory system compliance could be different...

INTRODUCTION: Chest X-ray (CXR) is the most prevalent method for evaluating lung expansion in high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of chest radiography with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in determining lung expansion. METHODS: This prospective study included newborns who required HFOV and were monitored in a neonatal intensive care unit. A single neonatologist assessed lung expansion with CXR and POCUS to measure the costal level of the right hemidiaphragm and compared the results...

OBJECTIVES: We have previously described gestational-age-independent sonographic indices to assess fetal lung size in the right and left lungs: The Quantitative Lung Index for the right lung (QLI-R) and for the left lung (QLI-L), respectively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical cutoff point of the QLI-R to predict pulmonary hypoplasia and neonatal death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective assessment of the QLI-R in patients with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH-L) and other fetal conditions at risk for fetal pulmonary hypoplasia...

Introduction Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has become frequently used in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) because it is diagnostic, useful, harmless, radiation-free, and practical for bedside use due to its portability. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between lung ultrasound (LUS) scores and diagnoses of neonates hospitalized for respiratory distress and determine the value of the combined use of laboratory and imaging methods in patient evaluation by looking at the correlation between blood gas parameters and LUS score...

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels to differentiate neonatal pneumonia (NP) and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). The secondary objective was to investigate the prognostic role of NT-proBNP levels in neonates with severe respiratory distress (RD). METHODS: A prospective, observational, single-blinded study involving 58 late preterm and term newborns who were diagnosed with TTN or NP was conducted between June 2020 and June 2021 at a level-3 neonatal intensive care unit in Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine...

BACKGROUND: We report the occurrence of a severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a neonate affected by a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). PH in this patient was associated with an abnormal origin of the right pulmonary artery from the right brachiocephalic artery. This malformation, sometimes named hemitruncus arteriosus, has to the best of our knowledge never been reported in association with a CDH. CASE PRESENTATION: A male newborn was hospitalized from birth in the neonatal intensive care unit after prenatal diagnosis of a left CDH...

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising field in the neonatal field. We focused on lung ultrasound (LU), a useful tool for the neonatologist. Our aim was to train a neural network to create a model able to interpret LU. METHODS: Our multicentric, prospective study included newborns with gestational age (GA) ≥ 33 + 0 weeks with early tachypnea/dyspnea/oxygen requirements. For each baby, three LU were performed: within 3 h of life (T0), at 4-6 h of life (T1), and in the absence of respiratory support (T2)...

INTRODUCTION: To assess the observed to expected lung area to head circumference ratio (O/E LHR) in fetuses with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and to explore its value as a potential predictive factor for postnatal outcome. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on pregnancies complicated by CAKUT between 2007 and 2018. The lung-to-head ratio (LHR) was calculated for each fetus by two independent observers. Correlations between O/E LHR and various perinatal outcome factors were assessed with Spearman's rank correlation...

OBJECTIVES: Corticosteroids are used to prevent or treat lung disease of prematurity. While neurological side effects have been reported, detailed effects on cerebellar growth are unknown. This study aimed to compare cerebellar growth in premature infants who received dexamethasone or hydrocortisone to premature infants who did not receive postnatal corticosteroids. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study in infants born at a gestational age of &lt;29 weeks and admitted to two level 3 neonatal intensive care units...

OBJECTIVE: Lung ultrasound score (LUS) accurately guides surfactant replacement in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome due to surfactant deficiency. However, surfactant deficiency is not the unique pathobiological feature, as there may be relevant lung inflammation, such as in certain cases of clinical chorioamnionitis (CC). We aim to investigate if CC influences LUS and ultrasound-guided surfactant treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective (2017-2022), large, cohort study targeted to recruit a homogeneous population treated with unchanged respiratory care policy and lung ultrasound protocol...

INTRODUCTION: A congenital intrathoracic kidney (ITK) is a rare anomaly that is recognized to have four causes: renal ectopia with an intact diaphragm, diaphragmatic eventration, diaphragmatic hernia, and traumatic diaphragmatic rupture. We report a case of a prenatal-diagnosed ITK related to a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and conducted a systematic review of all cases of the prenatal diagnosis of this association. CASE PRESENTATION: A fetal ultrasound scan at 22 gestational weeks showed left CDH and ITK, hyperechoic left lung parenchyma, and mediastinal shift...

BACKGROUND: Optimizing respiratory support after birth requires real-time feedback on lung aeration. We hypothesized that lung ultrasound (LUS) can accurately monitor the extent and progression of lung aeration after birth and is closely associated with oxygenation. METHODS: Near-term (140 days gestation, term ∼147 days), spontaneously breathing lambs with normal (controls; n  = 10) or elevated lung liquid levels (EL; n = 9) were delivered by Caesarean section and monitored for four hours after birth...

BACKGROUND: Reduced lung function at birth has evident antenatal origins and is associated with an increased risk of wheezing and asthma later in life. Little is known about whether blood flow in the fetal pulmonary artery, may impact postnatal lung function. OBJECTIVE: Our primary aim was to investigate the potential associations between fetal Doppler blood flow velocity measures in the fetal branch pulmonary artery, and infant lung function by tidal flow-volume (TFV) loops at three months of age in a low-risk population...

Chorangiocarcinoma is a very rare and misdiagnosed placental neoplasm. The unique morphologic features of the lesion distinguish it from other trophoblastic tumors and vascular abnormalities. We present a systematic review of the literature to provide clarity on chorangiocarcinoma entity and biology. A literature search was carried out in December 2022 using the keywords "Placental chorangiocarcinoma", "Chorangioma", "Placenta", and "Throphoblast proliferation". Articles published from 1988 to 2022 were obtained from Scopus, Google Scholar, and PUBMED...