A new survey by the European Society of Paediatric Research (ESPR) has examined how widely lung ultrasound is used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Europe to better understand what it is used for and how this may be improved.
The survey results, published on behalf of the ESPR Pulmonary Research Consortium, found that although lung ultrasound is available in NICUs throughout the continent, uptake is highly variable.
To improve implementation, the authors suggest the development of learning opportunities for healthcare professionals, as well as the establishment of international guidelines.
The researchers analysed lung ultrasound use in NICUs using an international online survey undertaken in 2023, collecting data from 560 NICUs in 24 countries.
The percentage of NICUs using this technique varied widely between countries, ranging from 20% to 98%. Of the NICUs surveyed, 76% of the units used it for patient care, while 6% used it only for research purposes.
Where lung ultrasound was used in a clinical context, it was most frequently used to diagnose respiratory diseases (68%), to evaluate an infant experiencing acute clinical deterioration (53%) and to guide surfactant treatment (39%).
Respiratory conditions diagnosed by in this way most commonly included pleural effusion, pneumothorax, newborn transient tachypnea and respiratory distress syndrome.
In all NICUs, lung ultrasound was mainly used by neonatologists. The researchers found that experience using it varied widely across Europe, with only 13% of the units having more than five years of experience using the machines. One-third of the units had less than two years’ experience.
The most common reasons for not using lung ultrasound were a lack of technical experience and uncertainty around image interpretation.
Survey respondents and authors suggested that specific courses and an international guideline on neonatal lung ultrasound could promote the uptake of this technique.
Reference
Alonso-Ojembarrena, A et al. Use of neonatal lung ultrasound in European neonatal units: a survey by the European Society of Paediatric Research. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2024; Apr 11: DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327068.
