Use of Ultrasound at the Bedside of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objective: To review the available literature on ultrasonographic diagnosis in the emergency department of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methodology: A search of the available literature was performed in the Medline, Embase and Google Scholars databases, using the terms of ((coronavirus) OR (COVID) OR (nCOV) OR (sars cov 2) OR (COVID-19)) AND ((Ultrasound) OR (Ultrasound) OR (Ultrasonography) OR (Lung Ultrasound) OR (Point of Care) OR (POCUS)) AND ((Lung) OR (Thorax)). Results: In the literature reviewed, the main findings in lung ultrasound are predominantly B lines, also subpleural consolidations and pleural line alterations were described, as well as the description of the A-BBC Score that allows quantifying the patient's lung involvement and its clinical commitment. Conclusions: Bedside ultrasound plays an important role in the assessment of the patient with COVID-19 pneumonia as it reduces the need for imaging studies, and allows diagnosis and monitoring of the patient with a reduction in exposure to healthcare personnel and contamination of clinical areas. However, more studies are required given the little literature currently available in the population with COVID-19.