BPD, Not BPD, or Iatrogenic BPD: Findings of Lung Ultrasound Examinations

Lung ultrasound has been extensively used to diagnose many types of lung disease. This study aimed to evaluate the pulmonary reasons for long-term oxygen dependence (LTOD) in premature infants using lung ultrasound. Lung ultrasound was routinely performed in 50 premature infants clinically diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Among the 50 patients studied, there were 9 cases of atelectasis, 4 cases of pneumonia, 2 cases of severe pulmonary edema, and 3 cases of pulmonary edema and consolidation that coexisted with BPD. The oxygen dependence of the babies either completely resolved or significantly decreased following appropriate treatments. More than one-third of the cases of LTOD in premature babies were caused by either BPD alone or diseases other than BPD. Lung ultrasound plays an important role in differentiating pulmonary causes of LTOD in patients with BPD, and the results of our study suggest that modifying the diagnostic criteria for BPD may be necessary.