Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture

Abstract Introduction and objectives Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been established as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, studies outside the critical care setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of TUS for hospitalized...

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Main Authors: N. Xirouchaki, M. Bolaki, C. Psarologakis, E. Pediaditis, A. Proklou, E. Papadakis, E. Kondili, D. Georgopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-02-01
Series:The Ultrasound Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13089-024-00359-4
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author N. Xirouchaki
M. Bolaki
C. Psarologakis
E. Pediaditis
A. Proklou
E. Papadakis
E. Kondili
D. Georgopoulos
author_facet N. Xirouchaki
M. Bolaki
C. Psarologakis
E. Pediaditis
A. Proklou
E. Papadakis
E. Kondili
D. Georgopoulos
author_sort N. Xirouchaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction and objectives Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been established as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, studies outside the critical care setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of TUS for hospitalized or ambulatory community patients. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study conducted from 2016 to 2020 in the TUS clinic at Heraklion University Hospital. TUS examination was performed using a standard ultrasound machine (EUB HITACHI 8500), and a high-frequency microconvex probe (5–8 MHz). Patients had been referred by their primary physician to address a range of different questions. The various respiratory system entities were characterised according to internationally established criteria. Results 762 TUS studies were performed on 526 patients due to underlying malignancy (n = 376), unexplained symptoms/signs (n = 53), pregnancy related issues (n = 42), evaluation of abnormal findings in X-ray (n = 165), recent surgery/trauma (n = 23), recent onset respiratory failure (n = 12), acute respiratory infection (n = 66) and underlying non-malignant disease (n = 25). Pleural effusion was the commonest pathologic entity (n = 610), followed by consolidation (n = 269), diaphragmatic dysfunction/paradox (n = 174) and interstitial syndrome (n = 53). Discrepancies between chest X-ray and ultrasonographic findings were demonstrated in 96 cases. The TUS findings guided invasive therapeutic management in 448 cases and non-invasive management in 43 cases, while follow-up monitoring was decided in 271 cases. Conclusions This study showed that TUS can identify the most common respiratory pathologic entities encountered in hospitalized and community ambulatory patients, and is especially useful in guiding the decision making process in a diverse group of patients.
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spelling doaj.art-0416e1a75e614cbfb7ae4108a89b62ae2024-03-05T18:03:35ZengSpringerOpenThe Ultrasound Journal2524-89872024-02-011611710.1186/s13089-024-00359-4Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative pictureN. Xirouchaki0M. Bolaki1C. Psarologakis2E. Pediaditis3A. Proklou4E. Papadakis5E. Kondili6D. Georgopoulos7Intensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteIntensive Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of CreteAbstract Introduction and objectives Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has been established as a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, studies outside the critical care setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of TUS for hospitalized or ambulatory community patients. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study conducted from 2016 to 2020 in the TUS clinic at Heraklion University Hospital. TUS examination was performed using a standard ultrasound machine (EUB HITACHI 8500), and a high-frequency microconvex probe (5–8 MHz). Patients had been referred by their primary physician to address a range of different questions. The various respiratory system entities were characterised according to internationally established criteria. Results 762 TUS studies were performed on 526 patients due to underlying malignancy (n = 376), unexplained symptoms/signs (n = 53), pregnancy related issues (n = 42), evaluation of abnormal findings in X-ray (n = 165), recent surgery/trauma (n = 23), recent onset respiratory failure (n = 12), acute respiratory infection (n = 66) and underlying non-malignant disease (n = 25). Pleural effusion was the commonest pathologic entity (n = 610), followed by consolidation (n = 269), diaphragmatic dysfunction/paradox (n = 174) and interstitial syndrome (n = 53). Discrepancies between chest X-ray and ultrasonographic findings were demonstrated in 96 cases. The TUS findings guided invasive therapeutic management in 448 cases and non-invasive management in 43 cases, while follow-up monitoring was decided in 271 cases. Conclusions This study showed that TUS can identify the most common respiratory pathologic entities encountered in hospitalized and community ambulatory patients, and is especially useful in guiding the decision making process in a diverse group of patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13089-024-00359-4Thoracic ultrasoundAmbulatoryMalignancyPregnancyDiaphragmatic dysfunction
spellingShingle N. Xirouchaki
M. Bolaki
C. Psarologakis
E. Pediaditis
A. Proklou
E. Papadakis
E. Kondili
D. Georgopoulos
Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
The Ultrasound Journal
Thoracic ultrasound
Ambulatory
Malignancy
Pregnancy
Diaphragmatic dysfunction
title Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
title_full Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
title_fullStr Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
title_full_unstemmed Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
title_short Thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients: a quantitative picture
title_sort thoracic ultrasound use in hospitalized and ambulatory adult patients a quantitative picture
topic Thoracic ultrasound
Ambulatory
Malignancy
Pregnancy
Diaphragmatic dysfunction
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13089-024-00359-4
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AT epediaditis thoracicultrasounduseinhospitalizedandambulatoryadultpatientsaquantitativepicture
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