Background: Despite the widespread utilization of chest CT, the definitive reassurance for repetition remains undetermined. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is responsible for the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which leads to the development of viral pneumonia. Diagnosis of this condition may be achieved through the utilization of a chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Furthermore, the application of Lung Ultrasound (LUS) has been found to possess significant diagnostic precision in instances of Alveolar Consolidation and Interstitial Lung Diseases.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostic performance of transthoracic ultrasound in COVID pneumonia and correlations of these findings with clinical features, lab and chest CT.
Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on (100) patients attending isolation unites (ward or ICU), Benha University hospital, with evidence of COVID-19 pneumonia during the period from June 2021 till January 2022.
Results: The mean age of the studied patients was 53 ±15 years. More than half of the patients were males (58%). fever was the most common manifestation among studied group. GGO was the most common finding and the median CT chest score was 14, ranging from 3-25. B lines were the most common finding in LUS and the median LUS score was 16. There was significant correlation between chest CT, LUS with O2 saturation in negative way and in positive way with inflammatory markers such as CRP, LDH and D.dimer. Lung US score was correlated significantly in positive way with chest CT score. The best cut-off of lung US score to predict mortality was > 24, at which sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% and 96.2%, respectively while the best cutoff chest CT was > 18, at which sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 87.3%, respectively. LUS score was a significant predictor of mortality.
Conclusion: Lung ultrasound serves as a secure and efficacious diagnostic modality in individuals presenting with COVID-19 pneumonia which reflects CT findings. The LUS score exhibited a strong correlation with various laboratory findings and the CT severity score, thus, rendering it a valuable prognosticator of mortality. The best cutoff of LUS score to predict mortality was > 24, at which sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% and 96.2%, respectively while the best cutoff chest CT was > 18, at which sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 87.3%, respectively
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