Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate lung ultrasound (LUS) findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis (AB) in the pediatric emergency department (PED).Methods: This prospective observational study included children under two years of age diagnosed with AB who underwent LUS at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children’s Hospital between February 1, 2023 and February 20, 2024. LUS was performed by two trained researchers within six hours of PED presentation. The severity of AB was assessed using the respiratory score, and LUS findings were categorized based on established criteria.Results: A total of 72 patients were included, with a median age of 9.5 months; 59.7% were male. The most common LUS findings were B-lines and consolidations. Median LUS scores were significantly associated with hospitalization status, length of hospital stay, and the need for respiratory support (p<0.001 for all). LUS scores showed a significant correlation with respiratory scores (rho=0.378, p<0.001). The presence of consolidations ≥1 cm or confluent B-lines was linked to higher hospital admission rates, prolonged hospitalization, and greater respiratory support requirements.Conclusion: LUS scores were associated with hospitalization, length of stay, and the need for respiratory support; however, prediction of advanced respiratory support will require larger cohorts. The study highlighted that LUS can be effectively performed by pediatric residents, supporting its potential integration into routine clinical practice to enhance diagnostic capabilities in pediatric emergency settings.
Gürbuzer et al. (Sun,) studied this question.