Chest ultrasound is an affordable and highly effective method for diagnosing the lungs. This examination allows detecting the changes characteristic of COVID-19 as well as pneumonia and other diseases.

Lung ultrasound is a safer alternative to computed tomography. It does not expose patients to radiation and is also performed on patients with contraindications to CT, children and pregnant women.

INDICATIONS FOR LUNG ULTRASOUND

Chest ultrasound is used for injuries and various lung diseases. The ultrasound allows confirming the diagnosis, as well as regularly evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.

Indications for lung ultrasound:

• symptoms of COVID-19;
• chest pain;
• shortness of breath;
• wheezing;
• prolonged cough;
• coughing up phlegm;
• blood in phlegm;
• chest injuries;
• suspicions of neoplasms, etc.

The ultrasound does not expose patients to radiation, so it can be performed more often than CT. The effectiveness of treatment of COVID-19, pneumonia and other lung diseases is monitored with the help of ultrasound.

A lung ultrasound is a visual test to examine the anatomy of the chest. The procedure is considered especially relevant during the cold season, as it allows detecting inflammation at an early stage and avoid an advanced case accompanied by severe complications.

Often this type of diagnostic test is used as an additional examination of abnormalities detected during radiography (helps confirm or refute a preliminary diagnosis). The chest pain, cough, high fever, weakness, unusual colour and consistency of phlegm or trauma may be the reasons for consulting a doctor. A normal tissue of the respiratory system organs has a homogeneous structure and average density. An area displayed as a dark spot indicates increased density, has uneven contours and may be a sign of the development of inflammation.

The main advantages of lung ultrasound compared to other methods

The lung ultrasound examines, apart from the lungs, the neighboring organs located in a given anatomical area: the heart, bronchi, diaphragm, pleura and other structures. The technique allows monitoring the health in dynamics during treatment. It is also considered mandatory for the annual examination of patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.

The ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive procedure with no contraindications, suitable for people of all ages, including pregnant women. Oher advantages of lung ultrasound include the following:

• high accuracy: allows seeing fluid in the pleural cavities or other changes characteristic of different types of diseases; 
• suitable for repeated use within a short period of time; 
• the technique is safe, as it does not involve additional radiation exposure and, thus, can be used as an alternative to other examination options; 
• an affordable procedure that does not require the expenditure of large sums of money.

You can make an appointment in Lviv in Berehynia Medical Center. The high quality equipment allows quickly undergoing the examination and receiving results with the interpretation of all indicators. 

Preparing for the ultrasound and how the procedure is performed

The respiratory system is not connected with digestion, so the examination does require following a special diet. However, if the patient suffers from a severe cough or thick phlegm before the procedure, the doctor can additionally prescribe expectorants – this issue is discussed individually with the specialist.

The examination is performed with the patient lying on a couch. Before using a transducer, a small amount of special gel containing silicone is applied to improve the signal and facilitate gliding over the skin. The transducer is pressed tightly to the required area and the obtained image is examined. The lung ultrasound lasts from 20 to 30 minutes, on the basis of which appropriate conclusions are then made.