Lung ultrasonography to diagnose pulmonary hemorrhage of the newborn.

OBJECTIVES

This study was aimed to investigate the application of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pulmonary hemorrhage of the newborn (PHN).

METHODS

From July 2013 to June 2016, 157 neonates were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: a study group of 57 neonates, who were diagnosed with PHN according to their medical history, clinical manifestations and chest X-ray findings, and a control group of 100 neonates with no lung disease. All subjects underwent bedside lung ultrasound in a quiet state in a supine, lateral or prone position, performed by a single expert physician. The ultrasound findings were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The lung ultrasound main findings associated with PHN included lung consolidation with air bronchograms with an incidence of 82.5%, a shred sign with an incidence of 91.2%, pleural effusion with an incidence of 84.2% (pleurocentesis confirmed the fluid was really bleeding), atelectasis with a incidence of 33.3%, pleural line abnormalities, as well as disappearing A-lines with an incidence of 100%, and 11.9% of these patients had the main manifestations of alveolar-interstitial syndrome (AIS). The shred sign exhibited a sensitivity of 91.2% and a specificity of 100% in diagnosing PHN.

CONCLUSIONS

Lung ultrasonography is useful and reliable for diagnosing PHN, which is suitable for routine application in the neonatal intensive care unit.