[Lung sonography in infants and children]

Lung sonography is an established procedure in children and adolescents for the assessment of various pathologies of the lungs and pleural cavity. In neonatology, in particular, sonography been established as an important modality for diagnostics and therapy management. However, there are various limitations due to the reflection of sound waves at the air interface.

The paper provides an overview of the basics of lung sonography, explains typical artifacts and gives examples of the most common pathologies in children and adolescents.

Basic and review papers were analyzed.

Sonography of the lungs follows a structured protocol. The choice of transducer depends on the size of the patient and the target region, and implies convex to linear transducers. The chest is divided into segments and examined in several orientations. Important artifacts such as A‑lines and pleural sliding represent normal findings. With increasing severe alterations, parts of the lung parenchyma can also be visualized directly. In children, pleural effusions, reduced ventilation and pneumonia are the most common clinical pictures. In newborns, transient tachypnea and respiratory distress syndrome and its complications are also seen, depending on the completed week of pregnancy. Sonography helps with detection and assessment of progression.

With structured performance and knowledge of the typical ultrasound patterns, but also the limitations of the procedure, many lungs diseases in children and adolescents can be assessed sonographically.