Lung Ultrasound Can Direct COVID-19 Treatment in Pregnant Women

The usefulness and role of lung ultrasound in the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve with a newly published study showing that use of the modality can change the treatment protocols for pregnant women who have viral infection.

Published in the June 1 Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, investigators revealed that findings from lung ultrasound changed the treatment course of 87 percent of pregnant women who also had COVID-19 infection. Although the study only included eight women, all of whom had RT-PCR tests positive for COVID-19, the research team believed it is the largest series of case studies currently available looking at how well the modality works with this patient group.

“Performing lung ultrasound examinations on patients infected with COVID-19 is an emerging trend, considering its effectiveness,” wrote investigators, led by Murat Yassa, M.D., from the Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

As a reliable, radiation-free imaging method that can detect pathologic lesions before hypoxia occurs and can reduce the need for chest X-rays, they said, it is well suited for imaging vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women. Additionally, they said, obstetricians are already familiar with and proficient in conducting lung ultrasound, potentially reducing the workload for radiologists and further minimizing the risk of viral transmission throughout the hospital.

The team’s findings indicated the women in the study were more comfortable with lung ultrasound than with chest CT or chest X-ray despite the levels of radiation being “relatively safe” during pregnancy. In fact, three women who had mild COVID-19 symptoms declined chest CT or chest X-ray, citing the risk for their unborn child and their breasts, but they agreed to lung ultrasound.

According to the study results, seven of the eight women enrolled had serious lung involvement, and two were asymptomatic. Based on the results for the lung ultrasounds, doctors initiated treatment in five women and changed protocols in two. Seven women had successful deliveries; one woman experienced an early, missed miscarriage.

Given these findings, the team said they recommended lung ultrasound under three specific circumstances:

• Asymptomatic patients with positive RT-PCR results for whom CT is not planned

• Patients with mild symptoms who do not give consent for chest CT

• Ultrasound surveillance of asymptomatic patients with initial negative CT findings or follow-up of the treatment response in symptomatic patients