Point of care lung ultrasound service in neonatal intensive care: Five years of experience in Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the utility of a point of care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) on patient management in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Study design: A retrospective cohort study of neonates who had POC-LUS from 2016 to 2020 in two-level III NICUs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The primary outcome was the change in clinical management. The analysis aims mainly to describe the implementation process of the POC-LUS program.

Results: A total of 956 neonates underwent 4076 POC-LUS studies during the study period. The number of POC-LUS studies increased significantly every year, from 316 (in 2016) to 1257 (in 2020) (p < 0.001). POC-LUS resulted in a change in clinical management following 2528 POC-LUS studies (62%), while it supported continuing the same management in 1548 studies (38%).

Conclusion: POC-LUS in Manitoba increased since its inception and led to an alteration in the clinical management in a significant proportion of patients who received the service.