Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?

Background Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) can potentially give important complementary information in particular conditions like bedside rapid diagnostic evaluation of dyspneic patients who commonly present to emergency (ER) units. Objective Assessing the significance and diagnostic utility of B-lin...

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Main Authors: Gamal Agmy, Mariam H Adeeb, Mohamed Adam, Manal A Mahmoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejcdt.eg.net/article.asp?issn=0422-7638;year=2022;volume=71;issue=1;spage=97;epage=103;aulast=Agmy
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author Gamal Agmy
Mariam H Adeeb
Mohamed Adam
Manal A Mahmoud
author_facet Gamal Agmy
Mariam H Adeeb
Mohamed Adam
Manal A Mahmoud
author_sort Gamal Agmy
collection DOAJ
description Background Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) can potentially give important complementary information in particular conditions like bedside rapid diagnostic evaluation of dyspneic patients who commonly present to emergency (ER) units. Objective Assessing the significance and diagnostic utility of B-lines and pleural line abnormalities detected on TUS among patients presented to the ER unit for the assessment of dyspnea against high-resolution computed tomography findings. Patients and methods A prospective observational study including 240 consecutive patients was conducted. TUS was done for patients presenting to the ER for the assessment of dyspnea. B-lines and the pleural line were evaluated by a linear and convex transducers. Sonographic findings were reported against high-resolution computed tomography findings, which was considered the gold standard. Results Slightly rough, fringed, irregular, interrupted, wavy, coexistence of more than one abnormal type of pleural line were detected in 30.8%, 35.4%, 19.2%, 17.9%, and 30% of cases, respectively. Warrick score classified patients with interstitial lung disease to mild (44.6%), moderate (36.3%), and severe (19.2%). Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO% predicted) and total lung capacity (TLC% predicted) predicted showed negative correlation with Warrick score (r=−0.66, r=−0.48 respectively, P≤0.001 for both) and positive correlation with distance between B lines (r=0.31 and 0.30 respectively, P≤0.001 for both). Warrick score at a cutoff more than 7 showed 96.3% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity. Distance between B lines at cutoff more than 3 mm had 100% sensitivity and 40.4% specificity. Cutoff more than 3 for B lines number/scan showed 92.6% sensitivity and 31% specificity. Pleural thickness at cutoff more than 2 mm showed 100% sensitivity and 34% specificity. Abolished lung sliding showed 96.3% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Conclusion TUS is an important tool for the diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary disorders. B-lines number and distance, pleural line abnormalities, lung sliding, and pleural thickness added diagnostic value for the ER assessment of dyspneic patients.
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spelling doaj.art-5d30e091ea1340d092a47164bcdccc112022-12-21T17:21:43ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsEgyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis0422-76382090-99502022-01-017119710310.4103/ecdt.ecdt_22_20Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?Gamal AgmyMariam H AdeebMohamed AdamManal A MahmoudBackground Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) can potentially give important complementary information in particular conditions like bedside rapid diagnostic evaluation of dyspneic patients who commonly present to emergency (ER) units. Objective Assessing the significance and diagnostic utility of B-lines and pleural line abnormalities detected on TUS among patients presented to the ER unit for the assessment of dyspnea against high-resolution computed tomography findings. Patients and methods A prospective observational study including 240 consecutive patients was conducted. TUS was done for patients presenting to the ER for the assessment of dyspnea. B-lines and the pleural line were evaluated by a linear and convex transducers. Sonographic findings were reported against high-resolution computed tomography findings, which was considered the gold standard. Results Slightly rough, fringed, irregular, interrupted, wavy, coexistence of more than one abnormal type of pleural line were detected in 30.8%, 35.4%, 19.2%, 17.9%, and 30% of cases, respectively. Warrick score classified patients with interstitial lung disease to mild (44.6%), moderate (36.3%), and severe (19.2%). Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO% predicted) and total lung capacity (TLC% predicted) predicted showed negative correlation with Warrick score (r=−0.66, r=−0.48 respectively, P≤0.001 for both) and positive correlation with distance between B lines (r=0.31 and 0.30 respectively, P≤0.001 for both). Warrick score at a cutoff more than 7 showed 96.3% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity. Distance between B lines at cutoff more than 3 mm had 100% sensitivity and 40.4% specificity. Cutoff more than 3 for B lines number/scan showed 92.6% sensitivity and 31% specificity. Pleural thickness at cutoff more than 2 mm showed 100% sensitivity and 34% specificity. Abolished lung sliding showed 96.3% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Conclusion TUS is an important tool for the diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary disorders. B-lines number and distance, pleural line abnormalities, lung sliding, and pleural thickness added diagnostic value for the ER assessment of dyspneic patients.http://www.ejcdt.eg.net/article.asp?issn=0422-7638;year=2022;volume=71;issue=1;spage=97;epage=103;aulast=Agmyb linesdyspneapleural linetransthoracic ultrasound
spellingShingle Gamal Agmy
Mariam H Adeeb
Mohamed Adam
Manal A Mahmoud
Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis
b lines
dyspnea
pleural line
transthoracic ultrasound
title Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
title_full Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
title_fullStr Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
title_full_unstemmed Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
title_short Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
title_sort can high frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea
topic b lines
dyspnea
pleural line
transthoracic ultrasound
url http://www.ejcdt.eg.net/article.asp?issn=0422-7638;year=2022;volume=71;issue=1;spage=97;epage=103;aulast=Agmy
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