Lung Ultrasound to Monitor Extremely Preterm Infants and Predict Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. A Multicenter Longitudinal Cohort Study

Loi et al. discuss whether lung ultrasound can monitor lung aeration and function and has good reliability to predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm neonates. Lung ultrasound was performed on the 1, 7, 14, and 28 days of life, and lung ultrasound scores were calculated and correlated with simultaneous blood gases and work of breathing score. They conclude that lung ultrasound scores allow monitoring of lung aeration and function in extremely preterm infants. Gestational age-adjusted scores significantly predict the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, starting from the seventh day of life.