Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.
National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'L. Spallanzani', IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
J Ultrasound. 2023 Jun;26(2):497-503. doi: 10.1007/s40477-022-00745-5. Epub 2022 Dec 27.
To evaluate the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in recognizing lung abnormalities in pregnant women affected by COVID-19 pneumonia.
An observational study analyzing LUS patterns in 60 consecutively enrolled pregnant women affected by COVID-19 infection was performed. LUS was performed by using a standardized protocol by Soldati et al. The scoring system of LUS findings ranged from 0 to 3 in increasing alteration severity. The highest score obtained from each landmark was reported and the sum of the 12 zones examined was calculated.
Patients were divided into two groups: 26 (43.3%) patients with respiratory symptoms and 32 (53.3%) patients without respiratory symptoms; 2 patients were asymptomatic (3.3%). Among the patients with respiratory symptoms 3 (12.5%) had dyspnea that required a mild Oxygen therapy. A significant correlation was found between respiratory symptoms and LUS score (p < 0.001) and between gestational weeks and respiratory symptoms (p = 0.023). Regression analysis showed that age and respiratory symptoms were risk factors for highest LUS score (p < 0.005).
LUS can affect the clinical decision course and can help in stratifying patients according to its findings. The lack of ionizing radiation and its repeatability makes it a reliable diagnostic tool in the management of pregnant women.
评估肺部超声（LUS）在识别 COVID-19 肺炎孕妇肺部异常中的作用。
对 60 例连续入组的 COVID-19 感染孕妇进行肺部超声模式的观察性研究。采用 Soldati 等制定的标准化方案进行 LUS 检查。LUS 检查结果的评分系统从 0 到 3 分，逐渐增加病变严重程度。报告每个标记的最高得分，并计算 12 个检查区域的总和。
患者分为两组：有呼吸道症状的 26 例（43.3%）和无呼吸道症状的 32 例（53.3%）；2 例无症状（3.3%）。有呼吸道症状的患者中，3 例（12.5%）呼吸困难需要轻度吸氧治疗。呼吸症状与 LUS 评分之间存在显著相关性（p<0.001），与妊娠周数和呼吸症状之间存在相关性（p=0.023）。回归分析显示，年龄和呼吸症状是 LUS 评分最高的危险因素（p<0.005）。
LUS 可以影响临床决策过程，并可以根据其结果对患者进行分层。缺乏电离辐射使其成为孕妇管理中一种可靠的诊断工具，且可重复使用。
