Thoracic fluid content (TFC) using electrical cardiometry versus lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of transient tachypnea of newborn

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate TFC by EC versus lung ultrasound (LUS) findings for diagnosing and follow-up of TTN in late preterm and term neonates. This prospective observational study was conducted on 80 neonates with gestational age ≥ 34 weeks. TTN group included 40 neonates diagnosed with TTN, and no lung disease (NLD) group included 40 neonates without respiratory distress. LUS and EC were performed within the first 24 h of life and repeated after 72 h. There was a statistically significant increase in TFC in TTN group on D1 [48.48 ± 4.86 (1 KOhm−1)] compared to NLD group [32.95 ± 4.59 (1 KOhm−1)], and then significant decrease in TFC in D3 [34.90 ± 4.42 (1 KOhm−1)] compared to D1 in the TTN group. There was a significant positive correlation between both TFC and LUS with Downes’ score, TTN score, and duration of oxygen therapy in the TTN group. Conclusion: Both LUS and TFC by EC provide good bedside tools that could help to diagnose and monitor TTN. TFC showed a good correlation with LUS score and degree of respiratory distress.What is Known:• Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is the most common cause of respiratory distress in newborns.• TTN is a diagnosis of exclusion, there are no specific clinical parameters or biomarker has been identified for TTN.What is New:• Thoracic fluid content (TFC) by electrical cardiometry is a new parameter to evaluate lung fluid volume and could help to diagnose and monitor TTN and correlates with lung ultrasound score.