Lung Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Lung ultrasound can be applied as rapid bedside adjunct to support early ARDS evaluation in ARF, potentially reducing delays associated with transport-dependent imaging. However, clinicians should interpret findings in context, as diagnostic performance may be attenuated when acoustic windows are limited (e.g., obesity) and when mechanical ventilation settings (e.g., high PEEP) alter lung aeration and artifact patterns.