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. 2015 Feb;34(1):41-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2015.01.002. Epub 2015 Mar 5.

Implementation of lung ultrasound in polyvalent intensive care unit: Impact on irradiation and medical cost

L Zieleskiewicz  1 , A Cornesse  2 , E Hammad  3 , M Haddam  4 , C Brun  5 , C Vigne  6 , B Meyssignac  7 , A Remacle  8 , K Chaumoitre  9 , F Antonini  10 , C Martin  11 , M Leone  12
Affiliations

Implementation of lung ultrasound in polyvalent intensive care unit: Impact on irradiation and medical cost

L Zieleskiewicz et al. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of implementing a daily lung ultrasound round on the number of chest radiographs and chest computed tomography (CT) scans in a polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU).

Study design: Retrospective study comparing two consecutive periods.

Patients: All patients hospitalized for longer than 48 hours in a polyvalent ICU.

Methods: Implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round after a short educational program. The number of chest radiographs and chest CT scans and the patient outcome were measured before (group PRE) and after (group POST) the implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round.

Results: No demographic difference was found between the two groups, with the exception of a higher severity score in the group POST. For each ICU stay, the number of chest radiographs was 10.3 ± 12.4 in the group PRE and 7.7 ± 10.3 in the group POST, respectively (P<0.005) The number of chest CT scans was not reduced in the group POST, as compared with the group PRE (0.5 ± 0.7 CT scan/patient/ICU stay versus 0.4 ± 0.6 CT scan/patient/ICU stay, P=0.01). The ICU mortality was similar in both groups (21% versus 22%, P=0.75) CONCLUSION: The implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round was associated with a reduction in radiation exposure and medical cost without altering patient outcome.

Keywords: Computed tomography scan; Critical care; Lung; Radiograph; Ultrasound.

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