What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of lung ultrasound aeration scores for triaging neonates with respiratory distress.

March 28, 2026BMC PediatricsOpen Access

Lung ultrasound for neonatal respiratory distress in a resource-limited county hospital: a pilot study

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Pilot study investigates lung ultrasound's utility for predicting triage outcomes in neonates, indicating potential for local management.

This study aims to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of lung ultrasound aeration scores for triaging neonates with respiratory distress.
Prospective pilot observational study design
Enrolled neonates with signs of respiratory distress within 24 hours of birth
Performed both lung ultrasound and chest X-ray within 2 hours of respiratory support initiation
Calculated LUS aeration scores using a standardized six-zone protocol
Evaluated predictive performance of a predefined threshold for triage outcomes
34 neonates enrolled, with 17 diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome
35% of RDS neonates required tertiary transfer due to severe clinical progression
LUS aeration scores showed a median of 12 in transferred neonates vs. 10 locally managed (P = 0.242)
LUS score of ≥ 10 had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a negative predictive value of 80.0% for predicting transfer
Findings suggest LUS is a feasible tool for assessing neonatal respiratory distress

Zhu et al. (2026) studied this question.

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March 28, 2026BMC PediatricsOpen Access

View Full Paper

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Authors

Pilot study investigates lung ultrasound's utility for predicting triage outcomes in neonates, indicating potential for local management.

This study aims to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of lung ultrasound aeration scores for triaging neonates with respiratory distress.
Prospective pilot observational study design
Enrolled neonates with signs of respiratory distress within 24 hours of birth
Performed both lung ultrasound and chest X-ray within 2 hours of respiratory support initiation
Calculated LUS aeration scores using a standardized six-zone protocol
Evaluated predictive performance of a predefined threshold for triage outcomes
34 neonates enrolled, with 17 diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome
35% of RDS neonates required tertiary transfer due to severe clinical progression
LUS aeration scores showed a median of 12 in transferred neonates vs. 10 locally managed (P = 0.242)
LUS score of ≥ 10 had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a negative predictive value of 80.0% for predicting transfer
Findings suggest LUS is a feasible tool for assessing neonatal respiratory distress

Zhu et al. (2026) studied this question.

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