Chest Ultrasound
Author(s): Ali Abdullah Alnakhli*, Fatimah Taher Alnakhli and Maryam Abdullah Alnakhli
Abstract
Transthoracic ultrasonography (US) of the chest is advantageous for evaluating a number of peripheral parenchymal, pleural, and chest wall abnormalities. Increasing evidence regarding its importance in the field of pulmonary medicine is gradually coming to light, and therefore, it is understandable that its use has grown significantly among physicians in the past decades. For example, its use has dramatically increased in the intensive care units, as it may delineate abnormalities that might not be as obvious to our standard radiographic protocols. Unlike chest X-rays or physical examinations, ultrasound scanning of the thorax is considerably superior to detect critical disorders including pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome (edema), pulmonary consolidation (pneumonia), and pleural effusion. Effective therapeutic interventions, including thoracentesis, pleural effusion drainage with a closed tube, and transthoracic needle biopsy, can all be made safer and more effective with the use of ultrasound guidance. With no requirement for patient transport, ionizing radiation, or waiting time, the essential skill set is easy to learn, quick to execute, and repeatable. The use of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) as a diagnostic tool for patients with acute dyspnea has increased significantly in recent years. A recent Sars-CoV-2 outbreak has led to an apparent shift in the usage of chest ultrasound as a screening tool for suspected cases of lung infection in emergency departments, where it has taken on the role of an iconic screening test. Ultrasound can be used to guide positive end-expiratory pressure settings, measure therapeutic efficacy, monitor the progression of the respiratory illness, and assist in the weaning process of the patient. This article discusses the fundamentals of ultrasonography and the numerous applications available. Three clinical instances constitute the heart of this essay, and they lead to discussions of diagnostic variability in pulmonary disorders as well as guidance for intervention. Finally, the third case leads us to address the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the significance of using ultrasound to diagnose the disease. Physicians may soon learn to employ lung ultrasonography as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in their practice. In time, the routine use of bedside chest X-rays appears to be becoming less effective. Computer tomography (CT) is an acceptable standard for 3D visualization of thoracic structures, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. However, moving a severely ill patient to a CT scan with all the supporting monitoring equipment may not always be a realistic choice. Chest ultrasonography has improved diagnostic accuracy while also improving quality and spatial resolution. With the emergence of patients in need of ventilation, chest ultrasonography has been recognized as an effective diagnostic tool. The advantages of chest ultrasound over other imaging modalities are real-time imaging, radiation-free imaging, and results that can be seen right away, among other things.