Dynamics of the Ultrasound Pattern “Double Lung Point” in Newborns with Transient Tachypnea During Body Position Change: A Prospective Study

Relevance . Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is the leading cause of respiratory distress in the early neonatal period. Although lung ultrasound is widely used in TTN, the effect of body position on detecting the “double lung point” (DLР) pattern remains insufficiently studied. Purpose — to evaluate the dynamics of the DLР pattern in newborns with TTN when changing body position. Materials and methods . A prospective cohort study was conducted. Newborns with a gestational age of ≥35 0 weeks, respiratory failure in the first 4 hours of life, and the need for CPAP therapy or mechanical ventilation were included. Lung ultrasound was performed twice: in the supine position (ultrasound-1) and 1 hour after the infant was placed in the prone position (ultrasound-2). The LUS score and DLР pattern recording were used. The primary endpoint was the change in the DLР detection rate and the dynamics of the LUS score. The study duration was from April to May 2025. Results . The LBD pattern was detected in 85.7 % of patients with TTN. Over time, ultrasound-2 imaging showed a decrease in the lung ultrasound score across all examined areas ( p < 0.001), as well as a decrease in the detection rate of DLР from 100 % to 76.7 % ( p = 0.016). In all cases, while DLР persisted on ultrasound-2 imaging, a pattern inversion was observed, dependent on the infant’s body position. Conclusion . Body position significantly influences lung ultrasound findings in TTN. These results emphasize the importance of considering patient positioning when performing lung ultrasound, highlighting the need for standardized protocols to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimization of respiratory therapy.