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Thoracic ultrasonography: a narrative review

Intensive Care Medicine volume 45, pages 1200–1211 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

This narrative review focuses on thoracic ultrasonography (lung and pleural) with the aim of outlining its utility for the critical care clinician. The article summarizes the applications of thoracic ultrasonography for the evaluation and management of pneumothorax, pleural effusion, acute dyspnea, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, interstitial processes, and the patient on mechanical ventilatory support. Mastery of lung and pleural ultrasonography allows the intensivist to rapidly diagnose and guide the management of a wide variety of disease processes that are common features of critical illness. Its ease of use, rapidity, repeatability, and reliability make thoracic ultrasonography the “go to” modality for imaging the lung and pleura in an efficient, cost effective, and safe manner, such that it can largely replace chest imaging in critical care practice. It is best used in conjunction with other components of critical care ultrasonography to yield a comprehensive evaluation of the critically ill patient at point of care.

Introduction

Thoracic ultrasonography is a key part of critical care ultrasonography (CCUS), as it allows the intensivist to examine the lung and pleural space. It can reduce the use of standard chest radiography (CXR) and computerized tomography (CT) in the intensive care unit (ICU) [1, 2]. Its ease of use, rapidity, repeatability, and reliability make thoracic ultrasonography the “go to” modality for imaging the lung and pleura in an efficient, cost effective, and safe manner. The practical constraints and risks of transporting the critically ill patient to the CT scanner and the inevitable associated radiation exposure make thoracic ultrasonography, whenever possible, a particularly attractive alternative the chest CT. This article will review technical aspects of thoracic ultrasonography, followed by a discussion of some of its indications. This article will assume that the reader has familiarity with the standard semiology of thoracic ultrasonography that is well summarized in widely available textbooks and consensus statements [3,4,5,6]. The reader is invited to review the electronic supplementary video material that demonstrates some typical findings of thoracic ultrasonography.

Technical aspects of thoracic ultrasonography

Lung and pleural ultrasonography can be performed with most recent generation ultrasonography machines. The smaller machines that are well suited for critical care work yield adequate images. Image quality is determined by the individual machine characteristics, presets, and post-image processing. Lung ultrasonography often relies on analysis of artifacts, such as A- and B-lines, which can be optimized by altering machine settings; the experienced operator adapts machine settings for optimal visualization of these artifacts [7]. Some manufacturers have included presets specifically for lung ultrasonography. These are not necessarily the best settings, so the intensivist needs to adjust the machine settings for optimal image quality. This may require adjusting the gain or altering the post-processing settings of the machine.

Thoracic ultrasonography images may be acquired with a curvilinear probe designed for abdominal ultrasonography. Alternatively, a phased array probe designed for cardiac imaging may be readily configured for thoracic ultrasonography. This reduces the cost of equipment, as one probe serves two purposes. The phased array probe has the added advantage of a small footprint to better scan between rib interspaces. A high frequency linear probe designed for vascular access guidance is useful for detailed imaging of the pleural line.

There is no best way to perform image acquisition for thoracic ultrasonography. One elegant method utilizes three pre-determined examination points on the left hemithorax and three identical pre-determined examination points on the right hemithorax. This yields enough information to categorize the cause of acute respiratory failure in a high percentage of case. This approach is codified in the BLUE protocol (Fig. 1; Table 1) [8,9,10]. Other scanning protocols have been described in a definitive guideline document [4]. An alternative method is for the intensivist to examine multiple adjacent rib interspaces while moving the probe in linear fashion across the thorax in a series of longitudinal scan lines. This yields a comprehensive view of the thorax. If an abnormality is detected, the operator focuses on the area of interest in more detail. There is no mandatory method of performing the thoracic ultrasonography examination. This reflects on the flexibility of the technique which is controlled by the clinician and applied according to the clinical requirements of the case.

Fig. 1
figure 1

(The latter are well summarized in the following article: Ref. [9])

The BLUE protocol algorithm. The BLUE protocol has utility for rapid assessment of acute dyspnea. Explanation of the lung ultrasonography patterns used in this figure is listed in Table 1. The Blue protocol requires that the operator has competence in identification of lung sliding, lung pulse, lung point, B-lines, consolidation, and deep venous thrombosis. Examples of these findings are presented in the video supplement of this article. The BLUE protocol also requires that the operator has competence in the image acquisition sequence required for categorization of the ultrasonography findings, as well as the knowledge of the ultrasonography findings that are designated by the profiles

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Table 1 Lung ultrasonography findings of ACPE and ARDS
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Thoracic ultrasonography has several limitations. It requires the intensivist to be competent in image acquisition, image interpretation, and the cognitive base. While the cognitive base is well described, the required training sequence for image acquisition has not been well validated. General guidelines have published regarding the training methods that are recommended for general critical care ultrasonography that may be adapted to thoracic ultrasonography [11]. The studies referenced the present article have been performed by groups with a high-level capability in lung ultrasonography. The reader can only expect to achieve similar results, if they have a similar level of competence. Another limitation is that aerated lung blocks transmission of ultrasound, so any process within the lung that is surrounded by aerated lung will not be visualized by thoracic ultrasonography. Similarly, a pneumothorax blocks visualization of underlying lung. A specific failure point of thoracic ultrasonography performed in the critically ill patient occurs in the supine patient, as it may be difficult to fully image the posterior thorax. In this case, the probe is placed as posterior as possible with angulation of the tomographic plane toward central body mass. Occasionally, it may be necessary to place the patient in a lateral decubitus position for full imaging of the posterior thorax. Patient-specific factors such as obesity, edema, chest drains, or dressings may degrade the image quality of thoracic ultrasonography.

Ultrasonography for the evaluation of pneumothorax

Mastering this application is a key skill for the intensivist, as it is superior to chest radiography for detection of pneumothorax when compared to antero-posterior CXR that are commonly used for evaluation of the critically ill and trauma patient population in whom lung ultrasonography for evaluation of pneumothorax is well validated. For pneumothorax, ultrasonography had a pooled sensitivity of 78.6% (95% CI 68.1–98.1) and a specificity of 98.4% (95% CI 97.3–99.5). Chest radiography had a pooled sensitivity of 39.8% (95% CI 29.4–50.3) and a specificity of 99.3% (95% CI 98.4–100) [12]. Evaluation of pneumothorax requires knowledge of several signs of lung ultrasonography including lung sliding, lung pulse, lung point, and B-lines (Fig. 2). M-mode may be used to supplement 2-D imaging [13]. The presence of lung sliding rules out pneumothorax at the site of probe application to the chest wall [14]. However, the absence of lung sliding does not necessarily indicate a pneumothorax. For example, pleurodesis, severe parenchymal lung disease, ARDS with low tidal volume ventilation, giant bullae, or bronchial occlusion will all ablate lung sliding.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Evaluation for pneumothorax using lung ultrasonography. This algorithm requires that the operator has competence in identification of lung sliding, lung pulse, lung point and B-lines. Examples of these findings are presented in the video supplement of this article

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While the absence of lung sliding suggests the possibility of pneumothorax, the presence of a lung point is diagnostic of a pneumothorax. A lung point is found at the intersection of the partially deflated lung and the air-filled pneumothorax space, where the partially collapsed lung moves in and out the tomographic plane of the ultrasonography probe in respirophasic manner. The lung point is 100% specific but only 60% sensitive for pneumothorax [15]. A lung point will be absent in complete pneumothorax where the lung is completely retracted to the hilum. The location of the lung point may be used to provide a semi-quantitative estimate of the size of a pneumothorax [16]. In this case, the examiner may identify a lung point at several adjacent rib interspaces to find the lateral extent of the pneumothorax while the patient is in supine position. With a small pneumothorax, the lung point will be located over the anterior chest. With a larger pneumothorax, the lung point will be located more laterally. This allows the examiner to map out the lateral extent of the pneumothorax space.

The presence of a lung pulse signifies that the visceral and parietal pleura are in apposition at the site of probe application to the chest wall, so its presence rules out pneumothorax at the site of probe application to the chest wall. Lung pulse is present without lung sliding in the case of an atelectatic lung, as might occur with a right mainstem intubation. In the case of right mainstem intubation, lung sliding is present on the right side; while on the left, there is lung pulse but no lung sliding [17]. The presence of B-lines or short vertical artifacts at the site of probe application to the chest wall rules out pneumothorax [18]. The observation of consolidation or pleural effusion rules of pneumothorax at the site of probe application to the chest wall as the presence of even a small amount of pleural air will obscure the underlying lung.

Only a short period of training is required to accurately examine the patient for pneumothorax with one study showing that a dedicated training class of 2 hours duration was sufficient to train emergency medicine (EM) physicians for identification of pneumothorax [19]. The intensivist can rapidly assess for pneumothorax by scanning the rib interspaces of the anterior and lateral chest: as a pneumothorax exclusively located in the posterior part of chest is uncommon. Vigorous intercostal muscle contraction can cause traction movement of the parietal pleural surface that may be mistaken for lung sliding.

Ultrasonography is useful for management of the pleural drainage device that has been inserted to treat a pneumothorax. Initially, lung ultrasonography is used to identify the pneumothorax, to target the site for device insertion, and to document re-expansion of the affected lung. Once there is no further air leak, ultrasonography is used to document that the lung remains inflated by ascertaining that lung sliding is present over the anterior chest area. In spontaneous and post-surgery pneumothorax, this strategy of ultrasonography-guided chest tube removal was effective and reduces the need for CXR [20, 21].

Thoracic ultrasonography for evaluation of pleural effusion

Pleural effusions are seen in up to 60% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can be associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay [22, 23]. Ultrasonography is superior to CXR for determining the presence of pleural fluid, estimating its volume, predicting the characteristics of the fluid, and in guiding pleural intervention [24,25,26,27,28,29]. Moderate to large pleural effusions are seen in up to one-third of patients at the initiation of ventilator weaning trials and are associated with higher rates of ventilator weaning failure as well as higher 28-day mortality rates [30].

A major application of ultrasonography is for guidance of thoracentesis both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Pleural fluid sampling in critically ill patients has been shown to alter management in over 40% of patients [22]. The location for a pleural intervention will depend on identifying the largest space between the parietal and visceral pleura well away from the liver or spleen, heart and lung. The operator estimates the size of the effusion [26,27,28], as well as characteristics of the effusion (i.e., anechoic, hypoechoic, hyperechoic, septated). The majority of cases do not require real-time guidance for needle insertion; however, it is crucial to know the distance from the skin to parietal pleura, the distance from the parietal to the visceral pleural and trajectory of needle insertion, as well as the location of the diaphragm, liver/spleen, heart, lung and diaphragm [31, 32]. The risks of draining pleural effusions with ultrasonography guidance patients on positive pressure ventilation are low, with a reported pneumothorax rate of 1.2–3.4% [33, 34]. Ultrasonography can also be used to identify intercostal vessels that would contraindicate needle insertion; aberrant intercostal vessel position is most common within 10 cm of the posterior midline of the thorax [35]. In addition to guidance of thoracentesis, ultrasonography allows the characterization of volume, location, and internal echogenicity of the effusion. Transudates are very likely to be anechoic, whereas an anechoic effusion may be either a transudate or an exudate. The presence of complex septated, complex nonseptated, or homogeneously echogenic patterns indicates a high probability of an exudate [36]. Ultrasonography is superior to chest CT for defining elements within an effusion [37].

Lung ultrasonography versus CXR for evaluation of acute dyspnea

Many studies have confirmed the accuracy of lung ultrasonography for the identification of diseases that are associated with processes that cause acute respiratory failure. In fact, lung ultrasonography is superior to standard ICU CXR for identification of consolidation, interstitial syndrome, pneumothorax, and pleural effusion in patients on mechanical ventilatory support when chest CT is used as the reference standard [38, 39]. The utility of lung ultrasonography for identification of acute heart failure is well established to be superior to evaluation that uses CXR as the primary imaging modality [40, 41]. The BLUE protocol that combines lung ultrasonography with venous study provided a correct diagnosis in 90.5% of ICU patients with acute dyspnea [8,9,10].

In reference to the utility of ultrasonography compared to CXR for the diagnosis of acute dyspnea, an approach using ultrasonography (thoracic, cardiac, deep veins) was superior for evaluation of acute dyspnea in the ED when compared to an approach using CXR as the initial imaging modality [42]. Lung ultrasonography alone was superior in establishing diagnosis and guiding therapeutic intervention for acute dyspnea compared to one that used CXR as the initial imaging modality [43].

In a pilot study of 118 patients, there was good concordance between lung ultrasonography and CXR in establishing a diagnosis for the cause of acute dyspnea [44]. In a prospective follow-up study by the same investigators, (involving 2863 consecutive patients presenting with dyspnea to the ED), the diagnostic accuracy of a standard evaluation was compared to one that incorporated lung ultrasonography, echocardiography, and inferior vena cava evaluation performed at point of care by the ED physician [45]. Standard evaluation included CXR as the initial imaging modality, and/or CT scans, and/or echocardiography performed by a cardiologist, as needed. This was compared to evaluation that utilized ultrasonography as the primary imaging modality. There was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy of the two methods, except for acute heart failure diagnosis, where point of care ultrasonography proved to be superior, and the standard approach, which was more accurate for the identification of pulmonary embolism (PE) and COPD/asthma. The main outcome difference between the two methods of evaluation was the time needed to reach diagnosis. Ultrasonography evaluation proved to be significantly time saving with respect to standard approach.

The utility of lung ultrasonography is well studied in the ED with the understanding that the published studies come from groups who are expert level in the field. It has not been well studied in the intensive care unit with the exception of the BLUE protocol (Fig. 2; Table 1) which has strong utility in both the ICU and the ED [8, 46]. To duplicate the results from the EM literature, intensivists will need to have similar skill level as the EM investigators.

In summary, lung ultrasonography (with addition of echocardiography and venous study) combined with history and physical examination may be an effective alternative to CXR for evaluation of acute dyspnea with chest CT reserved for patient who continue to have ambiguous diagnosis, while recognizing the limitations of chest CT to be cost, radiation exposure, delay, and lack of availability (particularly in resource limited environments).

Lung ultrasonography for pulmonary edema versus ARDS

In the critically ill patient on mechanical ventilatory support, the differentiation of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may be difficult [47, 48]. Lung ultrasonography is useful in distinguishing between the two entities. The presence of multiple bilateral B-lines on lung ultrasonography examination indicates the presence of an interstitial syndrome. Causes of this pattern of interstitial syndrome include such entities as acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema ACPE, pneumonia, interstitial pneumonitis, or ARDS. While signifying abnormality, B-lines are lacking in specificity; so, it is important to be able to identify the elements that increase their specificity. The pathophysiology of the underlying disease process determines the distribution of the B-lines and generates other ultrasound signs that are fundamental to the differential diagnosis. This becomes important when using lung ultrasonography to differentiate between ACPE, where the interstitial syndrome derives from an elevation of left atrial pressure; and ARDS, where parenchymal lung injury results in the interstitial syndrome detected with lung ultrasonography. The distinction between the two is a key differential point in managing the critically ill patient on mechanical ventilatory support with bilateral chest radiographic abnormalities that may be either from ACPE or ARDS.

With ACPE, B-lines result from elevation of left atrial pressure. With elevation of left atrial pressure, there is engorgement of venules within the interlobular septae that abut the visceral pleural surface. These are detected as B-lines with lung ultrasonography. There may be contribution from engorgement of interlobular lymphatics as well as accumulation of fluid within the alveolar compartment. In comparison, in ARDS B-lines result from primary lung injury, as they are formed by abnormalities adjacent to the visceral pleural surface that are derived directly from the lung injury.

The different pathophysiology in patients with ARDS and ACPE produces different pleuropulmonary ultrasound patterns with a different distribution of B-lines [49, 50]. In patients with ARDS, lung ultrasonography is associated with characteristic patterns. In the non-dependent lung fields, there are bilateral, non-homogeneously distributed B-lines. In some areas, B-lines are numerous; in others, they are coalescent, and between these two there are areas of normal lung (indicated by A-lines) configuring a non-homogeneous distribution of interstitial syndrome. In the posterior lung fields, B-lines are more homogeneous, showing the presence of coalescent B-lines that produce a “white lung” pattern. Areas of consolidation are often present in posterior fields, especially at the bases, with evidence of static or dynamic air bronchograms. “Lung sliding” is often reduced or absent in the areas of coalescent B-lines. The pleural line appears irregular, thickened and coarse with the presence of multiple small consolidations. Involvement of the pleural line is not homogeneous and follows the distribution and the degree of the interstitial syndrome pleural effusions is common but small. Lung ultrasonography findings are the same for primary and secondary ARDS.

The sonographic appearance of ACPE is characterized by interstitial syndrome homogeneously involving both anterior and posterior lung fields [49]. Anterior lung fields may be less affected, but “spared areas” are not observed, i.e., B-line distribution is homogeneous without interposed areas of normal aeration pattern (A-lines). The pleural line is smooth with normal lung sliding. Small consolidations can be found in some cases, particularly at the posterior bases. Pleural effusions are common and usually larger than in ARDS.

While lung ultrasonography is useful to distinguish between ARDS and APE, there are pitfalls. An occasional patient may have both ARDS and ACPE. It would be difficult to distinguish one from the other with lung ultrasonography alone. In this case, echocardiography is useful including both 2-D imaging and estimation of left atrial pressure using Doppler-based measurements. Barring these factors, lung ultrasonography is a useful tool to distinguish between ARDS and ACPE in the critically ill patient on mechanical ventilatory support with severe bilateral chest radiographic abnormality (Fig. 3; Table 1).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Examples of lung ultrasonography relevant to differentiation of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE). a Smooth pleural surface in association with confluent B-lines. This pattern is characteristic of ACPE. b Irregular pleural surface in association with small areas of consolidation. This pattern is characteristic of ARDS. c B-lines with spared areas. This pattern is characteristic of ARDS. d Non-translobar consolidation. This pattern is characteristic of ARDS

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Lung ultrasonography for evaluation of pulmonary embolism

Lung ultrasonography may be used for the evaluation of PE in three different ways: as a stand-alone imaging method, in combination with other elements of critical care echocardiography, or in conjunction with pre-test probability.

As a stand-alone imaging method, lung ultrasonography is used to detect abnormalities that are associated with PE. Emboli in the pulmonary artery tree often create peripheral infarctions represented by regional loss of aeration due to hemorrhage and alveoli congestion. Lung ultrasonography can visualize these areas of abnormality when they are adjacent to the chest wall, even when they are limited to small areas of the lung periphery [51]. They appear as small consolidations that are usually wedge or round shaped, with sharp margins, and with a diameter larger than 5 mm measured on the pleural surface [52]. They are most often found in posterior lower lung zones and they can be detected both with the low-frequency phased array or curvilinear probes or with the high-frequency vascular probe of linear design. This finding has limited value, as it has only 74% sensitivity for the diagnosis of PE. Another limitation is that the finding may be time dependent; it is not clear how long the lesions take to appear following the occurrence of PE. Prospective observational studies have demonstrated that a complete ultrasonography scan of the thorax in patients suspected for PE has the potential to aid in the diagnosis based on the detection of peripheral lesions with the characteristics of infarctions [51]. The first international consensus conference on point-of-care lung ultrasonography stated that it is an alternative to CT scan for the diagnosis of PE, when the latter is not available or contraindicated [4].

Lung ultrasonography, when integrated into a multiorgan ultrasonography evaluation, allows increased diagnostic efficiency compared to when it is used alone. This derives from the observation that when lung, cardiac and venous ultrasonography are combined for diagnostic workup, the results maintain good specificity for rendering diagnosis of PE. When considered alone, each single ultrasonography method has limitations in sensitivity, i.e., a limited potential for ruling out the disease when the ultrasonography test is negative. However, when considered in combination, the absence of lung ultrasonography findings consistent with pulmonary infarctions, the absence of right ventricle dilation, and the finding of fully compressible deep veins allow exclusion of PE with higher sensitivity [53]. Moreover, negative lung, cardiac and venous ultrasonography studies, together with the ultrasonography demonstration of alternatives to PE, such as pneumonia, pericardial effusion, pneumothorax, or pulmonary edema, increase the negative predictive value close to 100% [54].

Lung ultrasonography may be productively combined with pre-test risk scoring in the diagnostic workup for PE. Risk scoring is a fundamental step in the Bayesian approach to PE. It may allow the intensivist to rule out the disease with safety or it may indicate the necessity of a second level diagnostic such as CT pulmonary angiography [55]. However, risk scoring is based on clinical signs and judgments that have low specificity and that are subjective in nature [56]. When venous and lung ultrasonography are used to supplement risk scoring with an objective diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary infarctions or alternative pleuropulmonary diseases, the efficiency of risk scoring significantly increases; and a high percentage of negative CT studies can be avoided [57].

Lung ultrasonography for evaluation of pneumonia and interstitial processes

Lung ultrasonography has the utility for the diagnosis of pneumonia. Like CXR and chest CT, the diagnosis of pneumonia is never predicated solely on the results of imaging alone but requires integration of the results of thoracic imaging (regardless of modality) with the history, the physical examination, and laboratory results. This being a given, lung ultrasonography is superior to chest radiography for the identification of findings consistent with pneumonia with chest CT as the “gold standard” and has a diagnostic accuracy that approaches chest CT [58, 59]. There are eight metanalyses of lung ultrasonography in community-acquired pneumonia with four using chest CT as reference method. The pooled sensitivity (85–96%) and specificity (80–96%) are very high and accuracy more than 90% [60]. Lung ultrasonography may largely replace chest radiography for the diagnosis of acute community-acquired pneumonia [61].

The characteristic feature of pneumonia on lung ultrasonography is the finding of consolidation. The areas of consolidation may be in the millimeter range limited to an area immediately below the pleural line. Larger areas of consolidation may be either non-translobar or translobar (consolidation occupying the entire lobe). The area of involvement may be focal or multifocal. A mobile air bronchogram is suggestive of pneumonia [62]. These appear as punctate or linear hyperechoic structures within the area of consolidation that move in phase with the respiratory cycle.

On color Doppler ultrasonography, consolidation has a typical appearance: circulation is uniformly branched and vessels have a regular course [63]. With contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), there is a short wash-in period and an intensive enhancement. CEUS is useful in differentiating inflammatory from embolic lung consolidation, especially in patients with indeterminate chest CT findings [64]. CEUS may be used in ambiguous cases to diagnose lung abscesses within pneumonia, as CEUS is superior to 2-D ultrasonography or CXR for this application [65].

Pneumonia may be associated with B-lines that may be sub-segmental, segmental, lobar, multifocal, or generalized distribution depending on the severity of disease. This emphasizes the point that lung ultrasonography results are integrated into the whole clinical picture, as there are other disease processes that result in B-lines. Lung ultrasonography is useful in tracking the improvement of pneumonia including ventilator-associated pneumonia [66]. When pneumonia is in the healing phase, the infiltrated lung tissue is increasingly aerated. With re-aeration, air within the affected lung gives rise to reflection and reverberation artefacts within affected lung. The pneumonia recedes on the lung ultrasonography image and appears smaller than on chest radiograph.

The margin of pneumonia is characterized by an irregular, serrated and somewhat blurred shape with comet tail artefacts. In early stages a fluid bronchogram may be visible, characterized by anechoic/hypoechoic branched tubular structures in the course of the bronchial tree. A persistent fluid bronchogram arouses suspicion of post-stenotic pneumonia and that may require bronchoscopic investigation [4, 67]. Bacterial pneumonias may undergo necrosis and form abscesses that appear as round or oval and largely anechoic lesions within the consolidated lung. The lung abscess may have an echogenic margin and contain an air artefact within. If a patient does not respond to treatment with antibiotics, the pathogen can be acquired by means of ultrasonography-guided aspiration [68].

Interstitial lung diseases are readily detected with lung ultrasonography, as the process frequently extends to the subpleural area [7]. This yields a pattern of visceral pleural irregularity with a non-homogeneous distribution of B-lines. The visceral pleural interface is disrupted and fragmented. Small consolidations may occur with associated comet tails in a non-homogeneous distribution. The presence of B-lines may be a valuable marker of disease severity in patients with interstitial pneumonia that correlates to the extent of the reticular pattern on chest high-resolution computed tomography [69].

Lung ultrasonography for management of the patient on mechanical ventilatory support

Lung ultrasonography is useful for the management of critically ill patients on mechanical ventilatory support [6]. Progressive loss of lung aeration is associated with different lung ultrasonography patterns, so an ultrasonography-based scoring system has been proposed to assess lung tissue aeration. The lung ultrasonography score (LUS) (Table 2) allows pseudo-quantification of regional loss of aeration: each step increase of this score is associated with a significant increase of lung tissue density as assessed by quantitative CT scan [70]. By grading anterior, lateral and posterior regions of the two lungs, a global LUS can be computed: it quantifies the overall loss of aeration, with strong correlation with lung weight and extra-vascular lung water [70, 71]. Thus, the global LUS may provide a reliable and objective assessment of the severity of acute respiratory failure. A daily lung ultrasonography assessment that includes the LUS can be easily and quickly performed at the bedside [72] and can be used to monitor the evolution of the respiratory disease [73]; this is particularly useful in severely affected lungs with poorly informative chest X-ray and high-risk transportation to CT scan.

Table 2 Lung ultrasound score and corresponding ultrasound patterns
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Lung ultrasonography may also help to set PEEP in mechanically ventilated patients. Patients with focal loss of aeration at CT scan are poor PEEP responders, whereas those with a more diffuse disease may positively respond to PEEP [74]. Disease morphology (focal vs. diffuse) can be conveniently assessed with ultrasound at the bedside [75]. A re-aeration LUS can be computed to assess the PEEP-induced gain in end-expiratory lung volume [75]; this does not strictly correspond to recruitment of previously collapsed lung tissue, as a substantial proportion of the volume gain pertains to already, although poorly, aerated lung tissue. A weakness of lung ultrasonography in ARDS is that it cannot detect overdistention [75].

Lung ultrasonography also provides dynamic information: a severely decreased or abolished lung sliding suggests impaired regional ventilation. This can be associated with high PEEP setting [76], thus suggesting PEEP-induced hyperinflation in non-dependent lung regions, especially if lung sliding reappears when PEEP is decreased [48].

Three studies have examined lung ultrasonography in patient subjected to prone position for severe ARDS with conflicting results. One study found that a normal LUS pattern of both anterobasal lung regions in supine position predicts a significant improvement in oxygenation function [77], whereas another study found that oxygenation response after prone position was not correlated with a specific lung ultrasonography pattern [78]. Another study indicated that improvement in aeration detected by lung ultrasonography upon proning predicts improvement in oxygenation by day 7 and improved survival [79]. The LUS may guide fluid management in ARDS septic patients: in this setting, the LUS score variations are more sensitive than oxygenation in early detection of lung aeration deterioration due to fluid loading [80].

Lung ultrasonography is useful in identifying pneumonia in the patient on mechanical ventilatory support [81, 82] and it can then be used to assess antibiotic-induced re-aeration and redirect therapy in non-resolving cases [66]. Lung ultrasonography findings such as lobar and subpleural consolidations are very sensitive but poorly specific in suggesting ventilator-associated pneumonia; a dynamic linear–arborescent air bronchogram is a more specific sign [83]. Ultrasonography findings also require integration into clinical assessment. Combining ultrasonography findings with laboratory testing such as Gram stain of sputum or measurement of procalcitonin can improve the diagnostic accuracy [83, 84]. Ultrasound features of lung consolidations may help identifying the cause and guide treatments. If air bronchogram is absent or static in the consolidated lung, air transit is prevented in the corresponding airway and de-obstructive bronchoscopy may improve downstream aeration. Instead, a linear–arborescent dynamic air bronchogram strongly suggests ventilator-associated pneumonia; thus, microbiological sampling and empiric antibiotic treatment may be indicated [81]. Color Doppler can identify a luxuriant perfusion of a consolidated lung region, confirming the presence of intrapulmonary shunt and suggesting a significant contribution of the visualized region to patient’s hypoxemia [84].

The LUS can help in the weaning from mechanical ventilation. After a successful weaning trial, patients who will experience post-extubation distress have a lower LUS than those successfully extubated [85]. Similarly, lung ultrasonography assessment at ICU admission after major abdominal surgery may predict the need for prolonged postoperative respiratory support [86]. Combining lung ultrasonography with echocardiography may be helpful in determining the cause for weaning failure [87, 88], as does ultrasonography assessment of diaphragm function [89]. Lung ultrasonography has utility for the detection of weaning-induced pulmonary edema [90].

Conclusion

Mastery of lung and pleural ultrasonography allows the intensivist to rapidly diagnose and guide the management of a wide variety of disease processes that are common features of critical illness. Its ease of use, rapidity, repeatability, and reliability make thoracic ultrasonography the “go to” modality for imaging the lung and pleura in an efficient, cost effective, and safe manner. Thoracic ultrasonography can largely replace CXR in the ICU and may reduce the need of for chest CT in critical care practice. It is best combined with other components of CCUS at point of care to result in a comprehensive evaluation of the critically ill patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Northwell Health, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New Hyde Park, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA

    P. H. Mayo

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Latisana Hospital, 33053, Latisana, Italy

    R. Copetti

  3. Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sheikh Zayed Tower, Suite 7-125, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    D. Feller-Kopman

  4. 3 Praxis for Internal Medicine, Bahnhofstraße 16, 6830, Rankweil, Austria

    G. Mathis

  5. 7 Medical Intensive Care Unit, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France

    E. Maury

  6. 8 INSERM U 1136, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France

    E. Maury

  7. 9 Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Paris, France

    E. Maury

  8. Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    S. Mongodi & F. Mojoli

  9. Department of Emergency Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, 10043, Turin, Italy

    G. Volpicelli

  10. Emergency Department, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    M. Zanobetti

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Mayo, P.H., Copetti, R., Feller-Kopman, D. et al. Thoracic ultrasonography: a narrative review. Intensive Care Med 45, 1200–1211 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-019-05725-8

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Keywords

  • Ultrasonography
  • Lung ultrasonography
  • Pleural ultrasonography
  • Critical care ultrasonography