COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading and very contagious disease caused by a novel coronavirus that can lead to respiratory insufficiency. In many patients, the chest radiograph at first presentation be normal, and early low-dose CT-scan is advocated to diagnose viral pneumonia. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has similar diagnostic properties as CT for diagnosing pneumonia. However, it has the advantage that it can be performed at point-of-care, minimizing the need to transfer the patient, reducing the number of health care personnel and equipment that come in contact with the patient and thus potentially decrease the risk of spreading the infection. This study has the objective to examine the accuracy of lung ultrasound in patients with proven COVID-19 pneumonia.
Diagnostic Test: Lung ultrasound
The lung ultrasound examination consists of two-sided scanning of the anterior and lateral chest wall and is performed with patients in supine or near-to-supine position.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. high probability CT thorax or chest X-ray for viral pneumonia within five days of the
day of inclusion
2. positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab within 10 days of inclusion
3. 18 years or older
4. Oxygen saturation of < 93% in ambient air
5. Signed written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Contra-indication for lung ultrasound
- Other causes of hypoxia or of pulmonary infiltrates on CT thorax or chest X-ray
Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg
Genk, Limburg, Belgium
Investigator: Michiel J Thomeer, MD, PhD
Contact: +3289327171
michiel.thomeer@zol.be
Investigator:
Michiel J Thomeer, MD,PhD
+3289327171
michiel.thomeer@zol.be
Michiel Thomeer, MD,PhD, Principal Investigator
Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg