Ultrasound Imaging in the Early Detection of Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The most common cause of perinatal dyspnoea, frequently diagnosed on chest radiographs, is Transient Tachypnoea of Newborn (TTN). Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is recognised as a promising tool that has been proven in recent studies and tends to have better diagnostic capability. Aim: To describe the sonographic features of TTN and assess their clinical importance in early diagnosis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at Department of Radiology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India, from November 2020 to May 2022. Newborns with tachypnoea admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were enrolled in this study. In a stable state, the infants were placed in supine, lateral, and prone positions for the ultrasound scan. LUS was performed on a total of 94 infants. Along with ultrasound, a chest radiograph was also taken. Follow-up LUS was performed on days 2, 3, and on the day of discharge from the NICU. The sonographic findings of TTN were evaluated using Pearson’s Chi-squared test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Based on clinical manifestations, chest radiograph, and LUS, 60 newborns were diagnosed with TTN, and 34 had Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Out of the 60 newborns, the gestational age ranged from 32 weeks to 40 weeks, with a mean of 38 weeks + four days. Double Lung Point (DLP) was noted in 41 newborns with TTN, which showed a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 100%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 100%. Conclusion: The LUS could be widely used in the NICU as the first line of screening for the primary diagnosis of TTN and for early initiation of treatment accordingly.