A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine reveals how lung ultrasound can be a valuable tool for intercepting infections that cause pneumonia and that could "escape" (at least initially) the swab.
The study, conducted by doctors of Emergency Medicine of the Molinette hospital of the AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, enrolled 228 patients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, of which 107 diagnosed as suffering from COVID pneumonia. 19 following the finding of positivity of the nasopharyngeal swab.
The addition of the lung ultrasound, performed together with the medical examination, allowed to correctly identify another 21 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia (almost 20%) among those who had been incorrectly cataloged, based on the result of the first nasal swab. pharyngeal, as negative.
The rapid and correct identification of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in the emergency room allows for the early isolation of sick subjects, limiting the spread of infections not only within the hospital, but also on the territory, thanks to the isolation measures applied to close contacts.
The study was partly conducted with portable ultrasound scanners that can be connected directly to a smartphone: the ease of use and manageability of these devices make it possible to use them increasingly widespread, even at patients' homes.
To know more:
- read the scientific article: Lung Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia in the Emergency Department
- listen to the interview with Emanuele Pivetta, first author of the study, carried out as part of the Re-Action project and the FaceBook channel for in-depth analysis on the pandemic "Coronavirus - Scientific Data and Analysis"