Abstract
Introduction: The most prevalent method for evaluating lung
expansion in high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is chest
X-ray (CXR). The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of
chest radiography with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in determining
lung expansion. Methods: This prospective study included
newborns who required HFOV and were being monitored in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit. A single neonatologist assessed lung expansion with
a chest x-ray and POCUS, to measure the costal level of the right
hemidiaphragm and compare the results. Results: A neonatologist
took 55 measurements on 28 newborns with a gestational age of 32
(23.2-39.4) weeks who were followed on HFOV. The rib counts obtained
from anterior chest ultrasonography and posterior CXR showed a
statistically high concordance (p<0.05). Conclusions:
Lung ultrasonography is a reliable method in the evaluation of lung
expansion in patients followed on HFOV.