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Table 1 Interpretation of lung ultrasound

From: Clinically integrated multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound for undifferentiated respiratory difficulty, chest pain, or shock: a critical analytic review

Location

Normal findings

Abnormal findings

Chest wall

Hypoechoic intercostal muscle and echoic ribs with acoustic shadow

Subcutaneous emphysema (E-lines)

Pleural line

Lung sliding

Lung point

Lung pulse

Pleural line abnormalities

• Irregular

• Thickened

• Fragmented

Supleural space

A-linesa

Multiple B-lines (3 or more per intercostal space) consolidation pleural effusion

Few or no B-lines (2 or less per intercostal space)

  1. aA-lines can also be seen in pathologic situation, such as a pneumothorax, though without lung sliding in this case