Abnormal lung ultrasound pattern during labor: A prospective cohort pilot study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Radiology and Imaging

Background:

• Lung ultrasound (LUS) is crucial for assessing acute respiratory failure.
• The physiological LUS patterns in healthy parturients during labor are not well-documented.
• Understanding baseline LUS findings in labor is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the lung ultrasound (LUS) pattern in healthy women undergoing uncomplicated labor.
• To establish a reference for physiological LUS findings during the peripartum period.

Main Methods:

• Employed an 8-point lung ultrasound (LUS) assessment protocol, including lung sliding, A-lines, B-lines, interstitial syndrome, consolidation, and effusion.
• Included two additional supradiaphragmatic projections.
• Screened 24 healthy women twice: once during the first stage of labor and again within 2 hours postpartum.

Main Results:

• 67% of patients (16/24) exhibited at least one positive LUS region (≥3 B-lines) during the peripartelivery period.
• Interstitial syndrome was observed in 21% of patients (5/24).
• No significant differences in A-line or B-line prevalence were found between LUS scans before and after delivery.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal lung ultrasound (LUS) findings can be present in women experiencing uncomplicated labor.
• These findings may complicate the interpretation of LUS in patients with respiratory deterioration.
• Larger cohort studies are recommended to further investigate these peripartum LUS variations.