The use of chest ultrasonography in suspected cases of COVID-19 in the emergency department
| Title: | The use of chest ultrasonography in suspected cases of COVID-19 in the emergency department |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Allegorico E.; Buonerba C.; Bosso G.; Pagano A.; Porta G.; Serra C.; Dolce P.; Minerva V.; Vicario F. D.; Altruda C.; Arbo P.; Russo T.; Sio C. D.; Franco N.; Ruffa G.; Mormile C.; Cannavacciuolo F.; Mercurio V.; Gervasio G.; Costanzo G. D.; Ragozzino A.; Scafuri L.; Facchini G.; Numis F. |
| Contributors: | Allegorico, E.; Buonerba, C.; Bosso, G.; Pagano, A.; Porta, G.; Serra, C.; Dolce, P.; Minerva, V.; Vicario, F. D.; Altruda, C.; Arbo, P.; Russo, T.; Sio, C. D.; Franco, N.; Ruffa, G.; Mormile, C.; Cannavacciuolo, F.; Mercurio, V.; Gervasio, G.; Costanzo, G. D.; Ragozzino, A.; Scafuri, L.; Facchini, G.; Numis, F. |
| Publication Year: | 2021 |
| Collection: | IRIS Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II |
| Subject Terms: | COVID-19; lung ultrasound; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2 |
| Description: | Aim: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) represents the diagnostic gold standard. We explored the value of chest ultrasonography to predict positivity to SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR in suspected COVID-19 cases. Patients & methods: Consecutive patients with suspect COVID-19 were included if they had fever and/or history of cough and/or dyspnea. Lung ultrasound score (LUSS) was computed according to published methods. Results: A total of 76 patients were included. A 3-variable model based on aspartate transaminase (AST) > upper limit of normal, LUSS >12 and body temperature >37.5°C yielded an overall accuracy of 91%. Conclusion: A simple LUSS-based model may represent a powerful tool for initial assessment in suspected cases of COVID-19. The gold standard for diagnosis of COVID-19 is RT-PCR. During a pandemic emergency, it may be useful to identify suspect symptomatic patients who may safely be observed without undergoing testing for COVID-19. In this work, a simple model based on the findings of lung ultrasound, AST levels and fever showed an overall accuracy of 91% to predict the results of RT-PCR. |
| Document Type: | article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Relation: | info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000594679500001; volume:7; issue:1; firstpage:FSO635; journal:FUTURE SCIENCE OA; https://hdl.handle.net/11588/858364 |
| DOI: | 10.2144/fsoa-2020-0127 |
| Availability: | https://hdl.handle.net/11588/858364; https://doi.org/10.2144/fsoa-2020-0127 |
| Rights: | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:Accesso privato/ristretto |
| Accession Number: | edsbas.BAFE96A4 |
| Database: | BASE |