Diagnostic significance of pulmonary ultrasound in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and its correlation with the severity of the disease

This study explored the diagnostic significance of lung ultrasound scan in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Sixty children with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome admitted in the Harbin Red Cross Central Hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were included, and all neonatal respiratory distress syndrome children completed lung ultrasound examination within 24 h after admission. Relative to healthy newborns, children with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome had higher detection rate of lung consolidation, air bronchogram, aberrant pleural line, disappearance of A line, white lung along with pleural effusion. The detection rates of the above signs were higher in severe children than mild and moderate children. Relative to healthy newborns, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome children presented higher lung ultrasound score, higher arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure values and lower partial pressure of arterial oxygen values. Relative to mild to moderate neonatal children, the above indexes changed more significantly in severe children. The area under curve of lung ultrasound score for diagnosing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, mild and moderate and severe was 0.8, 0.9, and 0.9, respectively. We conclude that lung ultrasound has a good diagnostic value for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and the severity of disease.