Bedside Lung Ultrasound Interpretation
Overview
Lung ultrasound has become an essential point-of-care tool for diagnosing pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, pneumothorax, and pleural effusion with accuracy exceeding chest X-ray in many settings. This guide covers the BLUE protocol, B-line assessment, and systematic lung scanning technique.
Key Clinical Points
Lung sliding confirms pleural apposition and rules out pneumothorax at that point
B-lines (comet tails) arise from the pleural line and indicate interstitial syndrome
Three or more B-lines per intercostal space is pathological
Absent lung sliding plus A-lines indicates possible pneumothorax
Consolidation appears as tissue-like hepatisation with possible air bronchograms
The BLUE protocol differentiates the commonest causes of acute respiratory failure at the bedside
Related Specialties
Anaesthesiology
Pre-operative assessment, regional nerve block guidance, and airway ultrasound for safe anaesthetic delivery.
Emergency Medicine
Rapid bedside assessment for trauma, haemodynamic instability, and time-critical diagnoses in the emergency department.
Critical Care / ICU
Comprehensive critical care ultrasound for mechanically ventilated patients, haemodynamic instability, and procedural guidance in the ICU.
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