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.
Founder & Clinical Director, Ultrascan Technologies
15 September 2025 - 12 min read
Dr. Yahya Docrat, MBChB
Founder and Clinical Director at Ultrascan Technologies. Anaesthesiologist and POCUS educator with clinical practice across South Africa.
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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