Look at the lung: can chest ultrasonography be useful in pregnancy?

Riccardo Inchingolo; Andrea Smargiassi; Flaminio Mormile; Roberta Marra; Sara De  Carolis; Antonio Lanzone; Salvatore Valente; Giuseppe M. Corbo

doi:10.4081/mrm.2014.402

Look at the lung: can chest ultrasonography be useful in pregnancy?

Authors

Riccardo Inchingolo Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Andrea Smargiassi Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome; Pulmonary Medicine Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome
Flaminio Mormile Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Roberta Marra Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Sara De Carolis Obstetric Pathology Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Antonio Lanzone Obstetric Pathology Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Salvatore Valente Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome
Giuseppe M. Corbo Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, Rome

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/mrm.2014.402

Keywords:

Chest ultrasound, Pregnancy, Thoracic imaging, Pneumonia, Pleural disease, Pregnancy, Thoracic imaging

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of chest ultrasound (US) in the detection, diagnosis and follow-up of pathologic processes of both peripheral lung parenchyma and pleural space in pregnant women.

Findings: Pregnant women admitted to Obstetric Pathology Hospital Department for respiratory diseases were enrolled. Chest US examination was performed when there was a respiratory disease highly suggestive of pneumonia and/or pleural effusion and chest X-ray (CXR) should have been obtained. Three chest US patterns were identified: lung consolidation (LC), pleural effusion (PE) and focal sonographic interstitial syndromes (SIS). When chest US pathologic signs were reported, one or more subsequent chest US examinations were performed to follow-up the patient until their complete resolution. Sixteen inpatients underwent 54 chest US evaluations. We identified: 9 LCs, 6 PEs and 11 SISs. Total number of CXRs was 7 (10 females avoided X-rays exposure and one underwent 2 CXR evaluations on the advice of Gynecologist). Chest US follow-up, during and after therapy, showed complete resolution of echographic patterns previously described.

Conclusions: Chest US evaluation during pregnancy is a useful diagnostic tool to detect and monitor respiratory diseases, avoiding excessive X-rays exposure.