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Original Article

Lung ultrasound in COVID-19 patients

During recent years, lung ultrasound (LUS) is increasingly used in emergency departments in patients with respiratory distress. Bedside LUS can distinguish between been pneumothorax, pleural effusion, alveolar consolidation and interstitial lung disease. The new study of Bock et al examines the utility of LUS in the emergency department in patients acutely admitted for COVID-19. The aim was to investigate if LUS could identify patients at high risk of critical outcomes defined as non-invasive or invasive ventilation, intensive care unit stay or death. Based on LUS in 83 acutely admitted patients, the authors report that among 47 patients with normal LUS, only one experienced poor outcome (2%), whereas among 36 patients with abnormal LUS, 8 (22%) experienced a critical outcome. The authors conclude that LUS might be considered for routine use as a quick triage tool in patients suspected of COVID-19.
Dan Med J 2021;68(2):A07200551
Dan Med J 2021;68(2):A07200551

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1. feb. 2021
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