Sensitivity of Lung Ultrasound in Early Detection of Increased Extra Vascular Lung Water in Critically Ill (severe) Burn Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Background Burn injury, by definition, is not an injury limited to the site of burn, but instead, it is a multi-organ injury with a high incidence of morbidities and mortalities among burned patients. Multiple factors determine the extent of affected organs and the degree of their damage. Patients and Methods The study was conducted in Burn ICU in Ain Shams University Hospitals after approval of the ethics committee and written patients’ consent. It included 24 patients aged 24 – 64 years, of both Genders, suffering from severe burn upon admission to Burn ICU in Ain Shams University Hospitals with burn extent equal to or more than 20%, stayed in burn ICU for 14 days or more and showed at least once Lung ultrasound findings related to lung water capable of elevating LUS score more than zero. Results The main finding is that the lung ultrasound is a sensitive tool in detection of extra vascular lung water in Burn patients with severe burn of burn surface area 20% or more of the total body surface area in intensive care unit when compared by chest CT and chest x-ray. And, by daily lung ultrasound follow up, early sensitivity of lung ultrasound in detection of extra vascular lung water in comparison with chest x- ray and clinical data is concluded. Conclusion Our study showed that lung ultrasound is an early sensitive tool in detection of extra vascular lung water in burn patients with severe burn of burn surface area 20% or more of the total body surface area in intensive care unit.