Our Italian experience using lung ultrasound for identification, grading and serial follow‐up of severity of lung involvement for management of patients with COVID‐19
Luigi Vetrugno, Tiziana Bove, Daniele Orso, Federico Barbariol, Flavio Bassi, Enrico Boero, Giovanni Ferrari, Robert Kong
Abstract
Lung ultrasound (LU) has rapidly become a tool for assessment of patients stricken by the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Over the past two and a half months (January, February, and first half of March 2020) we have used this modality for identification of lung involvement along with pulmonary severity in patients with suspected or documented COVID-19 infection. Use of LU has helped us in clinical decision making and reduced the use of both chest x-rays and computed tomography (CT).
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)MedicineLung ultrasoundLungRadiologyUltrasoundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Grading (engineering)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakComputed tomographyCoronavirusInternal medicinePathologyDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakEngineeringCivil engineeringUltrasound in Clinical ApplicationsPhonocardiography and Auscultation TechniquesRadiology practices and education