Correct!
4. Pleural effusion and consolidation

Figure 2. Still image from figure 1 labeled with pleural effusion (PE) , consolidation (C), liver (L) , and inferior vena cava (IVC).

The lung ultrasound reveals lung hepatization (Figures 1 and 2) or consolidation resulting from a likely pneumonia. While the chest x-ray and thoracic CT were obtained which were felt to be more consistent with pulmonary edema, a diagnosis of pneumonia was suspected and antibiotics were begun. Broad spectrum antibiotics were initiated, central access was obtained and vasopressors initiated as the patient developed hypotension, and the patient was rapidly admitted to the ICU. Subsequent chest x-rays obtained while in the ICU were more consistent with pneumonia, highlighting the increased sensitivity of ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia and its utility in the emergency department and ICU (1) .

Reference

1. Bourcier JE, Paquet J, Seinger M, Gallard E, Redonnet JP, Cheddadi F, Garnier D, Bourgeois JM, Geeraerts T. Performance comparison of lung ultrasound and chest x-ray for the diagnosis of pneumonia in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2014;32(2):115-8. [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Home/Critical Care