Pathophysiological background and clinical practice of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 patients: A short review
1George Emil Palade, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Tagru Mures, Mures-Romania
2Department of Family Medicine, University of Szeged; Szeged-Hungary
Anatol J Cardiol 2020; 24(2): 76-80 PubMed ID: 32749247 DOI: 10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2020.33645
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Abstract

The pathological consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) are multiple, with interstitial pneumonia and consecutive respiratory failure being the most dangerous clinical manifestations. Timely diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary involvement need a comprehensive imaging strategy, which includes standard chest X-ray, chest computed tomography and lung ultrasound (LUS). In the last 10 years, LUS has become a useful, bedside and easily reproducible tool for lung
examination. In the first part of this review, we present the pathophysiological background, technical principles and practical aspects of LUS in
patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the second part, the main echographic findings, their interpretation, and the clinical applications of LUS
are overviewed. The review ends with the presentation of our work methodology, illustrated with images recorded from COVID-19 patients in our department.