Thoracic fluid content (TFC) using electrical cardiometry versus lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of transient tachypnea of newborn

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics Vol. 183; no. 6; pp. 2597 - 2603
• Main Authors: EL-Fattah, Nagwa Mohamed Abd, EL-Mahdy, Heba Saied, Hamisa, Manal Fathy, Ibrahim, Ashraf Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cardiography, Impedance - methods; Diagnosis; Female; Gestational age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung diseases; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neonates; Newborn babies; Pediatrics; Prospective Studies; Statistical analysis; Thorax; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasound; Transient tachypnea of the newborn; Lung ultrasound; Electrical cardiometry; Thoracic fluid content
• ISSN: 1432-1076; 0340-6199; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05507-5

This study aimed to evaluate TFC by EC versus lung ultrasound (LUS) findings for diagnosing and follow-up of TTN in late preterm and term neonates. This prospective observational study was conducted on 80 neonates with gestational age ≥ 34 weeks. TTN group included 40 neonates diagnosed with TTN, and no lung disease (NLD) group included 40 neonates without respiratory distress. LUS and EC were performed within the first 24 h of life and repeated after 72 h. There was a statistically significant increase in TFC in TTN group on D1 [48.48 ± 4.86 (1 KOhm −1 )] compared to NLD group [32.95 ± 4.59 (1 KOhm −1 )], and then significant decrease in TFC in D3 [34.90 ± 4.42 (1 KOhm −1 )] compared to D1 in the TTN group. There was a significant positive correlation between both TFC and LUS with Downes’ score, TTN score, and duration of oxygen therapy in the TTN group.     Conclusion : Both LUS and TFC by EC provide good bedside tools that could help to diagnose and monitor TTN. TFC showed a good correlation with LUS score and degree of respiratory distress. What is Known: • Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is the most common cause of respiratory distress in newborns. • TTN is a diagnosis of exclusion, there are no specific clinical parameters or biomarker has been identified for TTN. What is New: • Thoracic fluid content (TFC) by electrical cardiometry is a new parameter to evaluate lung fluid volume and could help to diagnose and monitor TTN and correlates with lung ultrasound score.