Lung Ultrasound as a Bedside Tool for Assessment of Extravascular Lung Water in Critically Ill Head Injured Patients: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION: Extra vascular lung water (EVLW) is defined as the amount of fluid in the interstitial and alveolar spaces. Primary aim of this study was to assess EVLW using lung USG (B lines >3 per lung field) in critically ill head injured patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intubated adult patients admitted in Trauma ICU with head injury (GCS 4-15) were assessed by daily chest X-ray and lung ultrasonography. Lung water content was graded based on the number of B lines per ICS with score ranging from 0-32 and categorized as low pulmonary fluid burden (0-10), moderate fluid burden (11-20) and high fluid burden (21-32). RESULTS: 140 critically ill head injured patients were assessed for eligibility and 20 excluded. Incidence of increased EVLW using lung USG was 61.66% (74/120) and the incidence reported using chest x ray was 40.83%(49/120) and the difference was statistically significant (p value <0.001). Increased EVLW significantly increased the duration of weaning, mechanical ventilation and ICU stay (p value <0.05). Significant association was observed between APACHE II, SAPS II and GCS at admission to ICU with presence of EVLW (p value ≤0.001). Mean delay in identification of EVLW by chest X-ray (CXR) compared to lung ultrasound was 1.42±0.76 days. CONCLUSION: Lung ultrasound is better than CXR for early detection of increased EVLW in critically ill head injured patients and has prognostic relevance as increased EVLW prolongs duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Gattupalli V, Jain K, et al. Lung Ultrasound as a Bedside Tool for Assessment of Extravascular Lung Water in Critically Ill Head Injured Patients: An Observational Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(3):131-134.