Abstract
Background: PCR used for SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis is variable and unstable.
Lung ultrasound has good safety and accuracy in pneumonia. We aim to
evaluate the ability of bedside lung ultrasound in suspecting the
diagnosis and/or predicting the prognosis of Covid 19 infection.
Patients & Methods: We recruited any case with pulmonary symptoms
necessitating admission in intermediate care and/or ICU during the
period between 27th March and 11th April 2020 in 3 international
centres. Patients were stratified according to Covid 19 PCR results. All
patients underwent chest X ray, CT, lung ultrasound, echocardiography
and laboratory analysis. Results: Eighty-two cases were recruited. Fifty
cases (61%) were negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 while 32 cases (39%) were
positive. Sixty-four cases (78%) were recovered while 18 cases (22%)
died. Covid 19 patients had more A profile and more abnormal A lines
than non-Covid 19 group (p<0.001). Smoking, congestion in X
ray, A profile and abnormal A lines in lung ULS are independent
predictors for Covid 19 infection. A scoring system for prediction of
Covid 19 using clinical and radiological data was calculated with a
sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 58%. Mortality in Covid 19
patients is significantly correlated with age, duration of fever,
presence of cardiac disease, B profile and abnormal A lines by lung ULS.
However, it is negatively correlated with initial O2 saturation and EF
by echocardiography Conclusion: Lung ULS could predict SARS‐CoV‐2
infection among patients with pulmonary symptoms necessitating
admission. Lung ULS can also predict the outcome of Covid 19 infected
patients.