Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Chest ultrasonography for the diagnosis and monitoring of high-altitude pulmonary edema.

Chest 2007 April
BACKGROUND: The comet-tail technique of chest ultrasonography has been described for the diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. This is the first report describing its use for the diagnosis and monitoring of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), the leading cause of death from altitude illness.

METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients presenting to the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic in Pheriche, Nepal (4,240 m) with a clinical diagnosis of HAPE underwent one to three chest ultrasound examinations using the comet-tail technique to determine the presence of extravascular lung water (EVLW). Seven patients with no evidence of HAPE or other altitude illness served as control subjects. All examinations were read by a blinded observer.

RESULTS: HAPE patients had higher comet-tail score (CTS) [mean +/- SD, 31 +/- 11 vs 0.86 +/- 0.83] and lower oxygen saturation (O(2)Sat) [61 +/- 9.2% vs 87 +/- 2.8%] than control subjects (p < 0.001 for both). Mean CTS was higher (35 +/- 11 vs 12 +/- 6.8, p < 0.001) and O(2)Sat was lower (60 +/- 11% vs 84 +/- 1.6%, p = 0.002) at hospital admission than at discharge for the HAPE patients with follow-up ultrasound examinations. Regression analysis showed CTS was predictive of O(2)Sat (p < 0.001), and for every 1-point increase in CTS O(2)Sat fell by 0.67% (95% confidence interval, 0.41 to 0.93%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The comet-tail technique effectively recognizes and monitors the degree of pulmonary edema in HAPE. Reduction in CTS parallels improved oxygenation and clinical status in HAPE. The feasibility of this technique in remote locations and rapid correlation with changes in EVLW make it a valuable research tool.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Group 7SearchHeart failure treatmentPapersTopicsCollectionsEffects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Patients With Heart Failure Importance: Only 1 class of glucose-lowering agents-sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors-has been reported to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events primarily by reducingSeptember 1, 2017: JAMA CardiologyAssociations of albuminuria in patients with chronic heart failure: findings in the ALiskiren Observation of heart Failure Treatment study.CONCLUSIONS: Increased UACR is common in patients with heart failure, including non-diabetics. Urinary albumin creatininineJul, 2011: European Journal of Heart FailureRandomized Controlled TrialEffects of Liraglutide on Clinical Stability Among Patients With Advanced Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Review

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Read by QxMD is copyright © 2021 QxMD Software Inc. All rights reserved. By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app