Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency
Aka: Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency, Blue Protocol, Lichtenstein Dyspnea Evaluation by Ultrasound Protocol
II. Indications
- Severe Acute Dyspnea evaluation in critical care patients (Acute Respiratory Failure)
- Distinguish acute Dyspnea Causes in a critical care patient
- Pneumothorax
- Pneumonia
- Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD, Asthma)
III. Background: Zones
- Zone 1: Anterior chest
- Mid-clavicular line at 2nd to 3rd intercostal space
- Assess for Sliding Lung Sign and artifacts (A-Lines and B-Lines)
- Zone 2: Lateral chest above nipple line
- Anterior axillary line lateral and slightly superior to nipple
- Assess for Lung Point and artifacts (A-Lines and B-Lines)
- Zone 3: Posterior chest
- Posterior axillary line at most inferior point above diaphragm
- Assess for PLAPS (Pleural Effusion or consolidation)
- Images
IV. Background: Lung artifact categories
- See Lung Ultrasound
- See Lung Ultrasound for Pneumothorax
- Pneumothorax findings
- Lung edema
- B+ Lines (3 or more B Lines in a single view)
- PLAPS (Posterolateral alveolar and/or pleural syndrome)
- Pleural Effusion (hypoechoic region)
- Consolidation (lung with Ultrasound appearance of liver without the sinusoids)
- Profiles
- A Profile
- A lines predominate in both hemithoraces (Zones 1 and 2)
- B Profile
- B+ lines predominate in both hemithoraces (Zones 1 and 2)
- AB Profile (C profile)
- A lines predominate in one hemithorax (Zones 1 and 2)
- B lines predominate in the other hemithorax (Zones 1 and 2)
- A Profile
V. Technique
- Cardiac or Linear high frequency Ultrasound probe (Lichtenstein used 5 MHz micro-convex probe)
- Ultrasound probe directed longitudinally (indicator toward 12:00)
- Turn off all Ultrasound machine automatic features that reduce artifact (technique depends on maximizing artifact)
- Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) off
- Multi-Beam Imaging (Sono MB) off
VI. Interpretation
- Lung Sliding present
- A Profile
- Perform DVT Ultrasound and Lung Ultrasound of Zone 3
- DVT Ultrasound positive
- PLAPS positive (Pleural Effusion or consolidation)
- PLAPS negative
- B Profile
- Pulmonary edema
- AB Profile (C Profile)
- A Profile
- Lung sliding absent
- A Profile
- Lung Point present
- Lung Point absent
- Obtain additional studies to evaluate
- B Profile
- AB Profile (C Profile)
- A Profile
VII. Efficacy
- Protocol delivered diagnosis in 90.5% of Acute Respiratory Failure cases
VIII. Pitfalls
- Operator dependent (learning curve)
- Pulmonary Embolism
- High False Negative Rate (approaches 20%)
- Use protocol as rule-in (not rule-out)
- Diaphragm paralysis
- Results in false positive study
- khosla (2010) Chest 137(6):1487-8 [PubMed]